The Old Rochester Regional High School football team has a tough act to follow.

The 2013 team went undefeated in the regular season and became South Coast Conference A Division champions on Thanksgiving after beating Apponequet 14-6. The overall record last year was 10-1.

But with several key senior players gone following graduation the conference champions will have to fight to defend their title.

Head coach Henry Quinlan said only four players started games last year.

“We’ve got a lot of good players who don’t have a lot of experience in games,” he said. “We lost a lot of players so we’ve got to gain as much as experience as quick as we can. I think that we’ve got a competitive team.”

When brothers Nolan and Haydon Bergeron graduated, they left voids in three spots, quarterback, linebacker and kicker.

Quinlan said senior Alex Aruri has been tapped to be quarterback. Last year, Aruri played wide receiver, but was waylaid due to a knee injury. He’s since recovered.

“He’s done a great job of leading the team,” Quinlan said.

Other players to watch include running back and safety Darien Dumond, a junior, running back Raekwon Phillips, a senior, and linebacker and senior, Kyle Henry.

“[Dumond] is one of the best running backs in the league,” Quinlan said.

With a number of experienced linemen returning this year Quinlan said opponents shouldn’t expect to walk into the end zone.

“One of our big strengths is that this is a physical football team,” Quinlan said. The Bulldogs first game is away on Friday, Sept. 5 versus Lee High School.

The first home game is Friday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. against Bourne High School.