ECC LARGE

East Lyme

Coach: Rudy Bagos (2nd year).

Key returnees: Sr. FB-LB Hunter Waido, Sr. TE-LB Zane Smallidge, Sr. G-DT T.J. Hillyer, Sr. TE Owen Tretter, Sr. TE-DE Ben Keating, Sr. T Matt Sabilia, Sr. TB-LB Ethan Opsahl, Sr. TB T.J. Laducca, Sr. T Matt Pagan, Sr. T Kevin O'Sullivan, Jr. FB Larenz Simpkins, Jr. QB Travis Franco.

Top newcomers: Sr. TB Mike Morgan, Sr. TB Mason Pagan, Sr. G Kevin Leuze, Sr. WR Greg Atkinson, Jr. C Andrew Brown, Jr. TB Dylan Janovic, Jr. TB Ryan Janovic, Jr. QB Brett Brigaw, Jr. S Corey Levesque, Jr. WR Evan Tryon, Jr. TE Trevor Delsderner, So. T Hayden Swanson, So. T A.J. Lanati, So. C John Reitmeyer.

Outlook: Bagos, whose first season was successful (6-5), says health is the key to the season "with such a difficult schedule." (Evidence: The Vikings open with Class L semifinalist Middletown). Bagos thinks East Lyme will be "in the hunt" for the ECC Large Division title.

Fitch

Coach: Jordan Panucci (2nd year).

Key returnees: Jr. QB Robert Duncan, Jr. RB-S John Johnston, Jr. RB Dejean General, Sr. DT-G Adrian Albo, Jr. DE Trent Evans, Sr. RB Terrel Scholle, Jr. LB Zach Menard, Sr. G Quinn Luethy.

Top newcomers: So. RB Isaiah Sebastian, Jr. DE Donte Paul, Sr. FS Aaron Santos, Jr. WR Luke Letellier, Sr. CB-WR Cooper Robinson.

Outlook: Everything was new in the Fitch program a year ago at this time, beginning with Panucci, and they finished 4-7. It's not new anymore. There's some varsity experience and more familiarity with Panucci's expectations. "We learned countless lessons last year," Panucci said. ... Keep an eye on Duncan, a promising quarterback.

New London

Coach: Duane Maranda (3rd year).

Key returnees: Sr. TE-DE J. Hunter Roman, Sr. QB Danny Maranda, Sr. WR-DB Troy Gray, Sr. WR-DB Mike Commander, Sr. WR-CB Jelani Lucas, Sr. OL-DL Brian Cespedes, Sr. LB-RB Kevin Shaw, Sr. FB-DB Jacob Epps, Jr. OL-DL Greg Newkirk, Jr. OL-DL Shawn Brown, Jr. OL-DL Conor Heap, So. K-WR-DB Garrett Burdick.

Top newcomers: Sr. WR-DB Doug Foye, Sr. OL-DL Ed Jones, Sr. WR-CB Nebate Metts, Jr. OL-DL Oscar Calcano, Jr. OL-DL Anson Wang, Jr. TE-LB Tyrel Martinez, Jr. RB-DB Roy Starks, So. RB-DL Chase Cook, So. TE-DL D. Major Roman, So. RB-DB Devon Sousa, So. QB-TE-DB Melquann Gomez, So. RB-DB Efrain Santiago.

Outlook: The Whalers (9-3) made the playoffs with a memorable, late-season run last year and return plenty. Hunter Roman, headed to Yale, may be the league's best player. Maranda threw for 27 touchdowns last year and Lucas and Gray are experienced receivers. Sousa leads some young, talented running backs. And Burdick, the kicker, won two games last year, giving New London a weapon many other teams don't have. Two potentials returnees, Leo Clinton and Rashan Young, transferred to Ledyard, leaving New London a little thin at linebacker. Still, it's a good enought team to make the postseason again.

NFA

Coach: Jemal Davis (7th year).

Key returnees: Sr. RB Khaleed Exum-Strong, Sr. OG Marc D'Elia, Jr. OG Noah Brown, Jr. OL J'Von Brown, Sr. OT Stephen Agnatovech, Jr. WR Griffin Gooden, Jr. LB Kyle Urbinati, Jr. LB Peyton Whittaker, Sr. DL Jake Giannelli, Sr. DB Ramel Pires.

Top newcomers: So. QB Jawaun Johnson, Jr. OT Richard Crooks, Sr. OL Nick Jacaruso, Sr. DB Tannor Fontaine, Sr. WR Daniel McClean, Sr. RB Daniel MacDonald, Jr. LB Ford Samedy, Sr. WR Dae Dae Uzzle, Sr. DB Lamar Waller, Sr. RB Tyler Bendixen, Jr. LB Keenan Jackson, Jr. LB Deondre Baker, Sr. TE Albert Tulli, Jr. DL Jake Dolan, Jr. DB Josh Favro, Sr. QB-DB Joseph DiPietro, Sr. LB Greg Turcotte.

Outlook: Davis calls Exum-Strong "one of the best players in the state." He'll run behind a large offensive line, perhaps able to offset the graduation of running back Marcus Outlow. The Wildcats also lost Tuzar Skipper, Calvin Green and Airec Ricks on defense from a team that finished 8-3. "Our goal is to return to the playoffs for the third consecutive season, and thus compete for a state championship," Davis said.

ECC MEDIUM

Ledyard

Coach: Jim Buonocore (6th year).

Key returnees: Sr. RB-DB JoJo Shumaker, Sr. WR-DB River Thomas, Jr. QB Ty Ebdon, Sr. OL-DL Dwayne Brown, Jr. OL-DL Mike Leandri, Sr. OL Tyler Woods, Jr. OL-LB Jeff O'Hanlon, Sr. OL-DL Jeremy Baron, Jr. DL Collin Krauth, Sr. LB Kyle Zeppieri, Sr. LB Kevin Ma, Jr. WR-DB Justin Carter, Jr. WR-DB-K Luke Saccone, Jr. WR-DB Trevor Bolduc, Sr. LB Mike McDowell, Sr. DB Fardini Racine, Jr. LB Jon Carver, Jr. LB Ryan Lynch, Sr. LS-SS Andrew August, Jr. LB Daric Johnson, Jr. LB Curtis Patsiga, Sr. OL Tyler Decosta, Jr. OL/DL Mitch Hempstead, Jr. OL-DL Matt Nova, Jr. DL Tannor Daggett, Sr. DL Peyton McGill.

Top newcomers: Sr. WR-DB Phyllip Thomas, Sr. RB-LB Rashan Young, Sr. WR-LB Leo Clinton, Sr. WR-DB Ian Foster, Fr. QB Max Ebdon, So. WR-DB Herm Winston, So. RB-LB Manny Deshields-Sanabria, So. LB Mike Sullivan, Jr. OL-DL Chris Cliett, Jr. OL-DL Mitch Santiago, Jr. OL-DL Shawn Hundley, Jr. WR-DB Ashley Palacios, So. WR-DB Cody Crawford, So. WR-LB Jon Archer, So. WR-DB AJ Feaster, Jr. RB-DB Shane Fors, So. RB-DB Chris Kotecki, So. OL-DL Pierre Dalce, So. OL Branden Whipple.

Outlook: This is likely the best team in the conference as they return most of the team from last season's 9-3 Class M quarterfinalist. Ebdon threw 32 touchdown passes, while Shumaker ran for more than 1,600 yards behind a line that returns four starters. The receivers are fast, helped by newcomer Phyllip Thomas, one of the best basketball players in the school. The defense is just as solid. Zeppieri returns at linebacker, buoyed by New London transfers Young and Clinton. "As long as we stay healthy," Buonocore said, "we expect to contend for the ECC Medium Division and return to the state playoffs." Keep an eye on Nov. 7, potentially the ECC game of the year against New London.

Montville

Coach: Tanner Grove (9th year).

Key returnees: Sr. WR Chance Collier, Sr. QB Tyler Quidgeon, Sr. RB-DB Jordane Virgo, Sr. RB-DE Sean Peterson, Sr. K Nick Veillette, Jr. OL-DL Kevin Murtha, Jr. Troy Sullivan OL-DL, Jr. RB-WR Jon McCray, Jr. S-WR Tyler Price, Jr. LB-OL Christian Davis.

Top newcomers: Sr. TE-DB Victor Castro, Sr. WR-DB Kyle Marsh, Sr. OL-DL Pete Pescatello, Jr. RB-LB Kevin Doherty, Jr. OL-DL Brendan Rotholtz, Jr. OL-LB Lucas Berube, Jr. WR-DB Cody Calash, Jr. LB-FB Will Manley, Jr. TE-DE Jake Callahan, So. DE-OL Jack Ware, So. DB-WR Cevan Riley, So. QB-LB Billy Clark, So. OL-DL Steven Bollinger, So. OL-DL Emmanuel Diaz, So. RB-LB Andrew Petherick, So. RB-LB Joe Satiro, So. DB-WR Austin Glidden.

Outlook: Grove, 62-26 in his eight seasons, rarely changes expectations: "To play in December," he said. He calls this team "younger than last season, but possibly more talented." Quidgeon starts his second season at quarterback (the Indians were 7-4 in 2013) with Collier, Virgo, Peterson, McCray and Calash as weapons. Davis and McCray lead the defense with Murtha and Sullivan. Top newcomers Price, Doherty, Ware, Manley and Riley, Grove said, "will make an impact on a potentially top tier defense in the ECC."

Stonington

Coach: A.J. Massengale (11th season).

Key returnees: Sr. RB-DB Matt Mitchell, Sr. LB-RB Jack Riordan, Sr. LB-RB Jacob Shulda, Jr. LB-TE Seamus Wallace, Jr. LB-TE Tyler Burnside, Jr. OL-DL Julian Maiorano, Sr. OL-DL Dan Crandall, Jr. DB-WR Hunter Floyd.

Top newcomers: Jr. QB Amadi White, Sr. RB Conor Feeney, Jr. OL-DL Luke Williams, Jr. OL Nate Wheeler, Sr. OL Nathan Holliman, Sr. LB-RB Nick Zujus, Sr. LB-TE Justin Laing, Jr. OL Liam Angus, So. DB-RB Liam Wallace, So. DB Andrew Field, So. RB Nick DeDominicis, Sr. OL Will Spencer, Sr. WR Nick Lindholm, Jr. OL Grant Mueller, Jr. OL Keenan Armstead.

Outlook: The Bears have consistently, if not quietly, been among the ECC's best in recent years. They lost quite a bit to graduation from last year's 8-3 team, however, leaving a young team. Massengale: "We are excited to have another challenging schedule that requires our players to play their best every day of practice and we hope to get better every day in an attempt to compete against our conference's best."

Waterford

Coach: Mike Ellis (12th year).

Key returnees: Sr. SE-DB Griffen Archambault, Sr. FB-ILB Michael McDermott, Jr. QB-DB Jake Mangual, Sr. OT-DT John Wenc, Sr. SE-OLB Ryan Miller, Jr. OT-NG Connor Gregoire, Jr. OG-NG Colin Swansen, Sr. C-DT Andrew Kenniston, Sr. OT-DT Cody Cleary, Sr. OT-DT Darren D'Amico, Jr. TB-OLB Chase Speller, Sr. RB-DB Isaiah Jones, Jr. RB-DB Michael Rocchetti, So. QB-DB Spencer Hoagland, Jr. RB-OLB Noah Concasia, Sr. OG-DE Vince Bartelli.

Top newcomers: Jr. OG-ILB Alex Chalmers, So. OG-NG Tristan Mazzulli, So. OT-OLB Kevin Grandieri, Jr. C-DE Ryan Mead, Jr. OT-DT Bobby Maynard, Sr. OT-ILB Justin Elliott, So. QB-DB T.J. McBride, Jr. RB-DB Rolando Rivera, So. RB-DB Kyle Cardoza, So. TB-ILB Luke Barrs, Jr. RB-ILB Julian Faulk. Sr. RB-ILB Mitchell Burdick, Sr. SE-DB Anthony Jordan, So. SE-DB Jeffrey Evans, Jr. SE-DB Justin Keating, Sr. SE-DB Corey Lentz, Sr. SE-DB Tim Cook.

Outlook: The Lancers return 12 starters from last year's team (4-7) but have lost four big contributors in Seth Hoagland, Joe Gustafson, Donny Craig and Bishme Sheppard. This year's team is a group of hard working players who are coachable and fun to be around. The entire defensive line returns along with three of five offensive linemen. The key will be the development of both the offensive and defensive backfields.

ECC SMALL

St. Bernard/Norwich Tech

Coach: Sean Ladyga (4th year).

Key returnees: Sr. WR Stephen Sieczkowski, Jr. RB Thurston Brown, Sr. OL Stanley Wybraniec, Jr. OL Dylan Souza, Sr. WR Jared Citizen.

Top newcomers: Sr. WR Cal Senesac, Jr. WR Alec Casillas, Sr. TE Tyler Pater, Jr. QB Anthony Hall, So. QB Jared Neal, So. LP Evan Sophn, So. DE Erik Place, Jr. WR Brandon Bastien, So. DT Zach Meuse, Jr. RB Tim Foster, Sr. OL Alec Mendez, So. OL Jaron Reed, So. LB Koby Cunnigham, Jr. OL Robert Newton, Sr. RB Steve Buchanan.

Outlook: Ladyga continues to rebuild the Saints with a combination of experience and youth. They were 1-10 a year ago, but Ladyga hopes SB/NT can close the gap on the Small Division's top programs - Griswold, Plainfield and Windham. Playing three teams from the Constitution State Conference will also provide a more competitive situation for the Saints, who expect improvement on the field and in the win column this fall.

OTHERS

Valley Regional/Old Lyme

Coach: Tim King (17th year).

Key returnees: Sr. WR-LB Justin Burgess, Sr. RB-LB Justin Cheverier, Sr. G-LB Tyler Cheverier, Sr. C-LB Dan Figuenick, Sr. RB-DB Christian Marroquin, Sr. G-LB Tajhay Marshall, Sr. QB-DB Chris Jean-Pierre, Sr. WR-DB Evan Smith, Sr. WR-S Andrew Tuscano, Jr. T-NG Jack Gianconia.

Top newcomers: Jr. RB-DB-LB Sean Hunt, Jr. OL-DL Matt Robertson, Jr. T-DE Will Visiglio, Fr. RB-S Jake Kruszewski, Fr. WR-DB Ernest Jean-Pierre.

Outlook: The Warriors' defense is in great shape as they return nine starters from last season's 12-1 Class M semifinalist. Figuenick, Marshall, Tuscano and the Cheveriers were the team's top five tacklers last year. The offense had more turnover with Jean-Pierre moving from receiver to quarterback, and there will be four new linemen. Fortunately, three of the four linemen started at other positions and Jean-Pierre gives Valley/Old Lyme more of a running threat. Morgan and North Branford return more starters this season, but the Warriors should still be a major factor in the Pequot Football Conference race.