The Boothbay football team begins the 2017 season in a new league and with a new coach. But the Seahawks have the same old desire teams have played with since competitive sports began. “We’re looking for a big ole W,” said new coach Eddie Crocker about his team’s prospects in the season opener Sept. 1 against Telstar at Sherman Field.

The Seahawks have 20 players in training camp, but Crocker expects once school starts to have a 25-man roster. Boothbay returns to Maine Principals’ Association this season after a one-year absence when it played football as a club sport. Boothbay joins Telstar of Bethel, Marranacook of Readfield, Traip of Kittery, Sacopee Valley of Hiram, and Camden Hills of Rockport in the newly formed Class E. The MPA approved a fifth class for high school football last year to help schools with low enrollment or those newly initiated programs struggling to maintain the sport.

So far, the Seahawks have looked good in preseason workouts as well as their scrimmage Aug. 21 against Class C Freeport. On offense, Boothbay’s running game excelled due to strong line play and talented runners. The offensive line has Dwight Lucas at center, Alex Hibbard and Alex Bryer as the guards, and Henry Drapeau and Clarence Burnaham at the tackles.

“These linemen are all big and strong and can block,” Crocker said. The Seahawks run a double wing offense which requires two wing backs to become lead blockers in the running attack. Senior Cameron Crocker played center last season and was one of the team’s best linemen. This year, he is a wing back.

“I like the change because I will carry the ball, but I also like to block,” said Cameron Crocker. “The key to winning games is good blocking and I’m motivated this season to do a lot of both.”

Running the offense is senior quarterback Jay Hasch. Coach Crocker likes his quarterback’s athleticism and intelligence.

“He knows the offense and the players in the huddle respect him,” Crocker said. “He is also a good athlete and he is tall which should really help our passing game this season.”

On defense, the Seahawks will line up in a 5-3 formation. Defensive Coordinator Smith Climo was pleased with his squad’s interior defense against Freeport. “Linebackers Alex Bryer and Alex Hibbard had really good games. Freeport couldn’t run up the middle because they got stopped by those two,” he said.

As the season opener approaches, Climo believes his defense needs to do a better job containing outside runs.