BELFAST – The Belfast football team’s co-head coaches didn’t make many changes to what their team does on the field this year.

Instead, the biggest change was made for them – the Lions have what will likely be an even tougher schedule this year as former Class A squads Gardiner and Waterville will now play alongside traditional Class B powers such as Belfast and Winslow.

The Lions will open up against Gardiner.

“I think it’s going to make a big difference,” said Butch Richards, who makes up one-half of Belfast’s coaching tandem as the offensive boss along with defensive skipper Butch Arthers. “They’re two big traditional football schools and our schedule is going to be more difficult.”

The schedule changes and the graduation of one of the top backfields in the state will be Belfast’s biggest hurdles.

The Lions are looking at a number of possible candidates to start in the spots formerly filled by Josh Aldus, a Fitzpatrick Trophy semifinalist who led the PTC Class B in rushing last year, and Garren Horne, a first-team running back.

“I think anytime you lose two pretty talented backs you have to make some adjustments and hope the offensive line does its job and someone steps up,” Richards said. “At this point we’re looking at a group of guys and hopefully someone will step forward. If not, we’ll do it by committee.”

For now, that “committee” includes players like running backs Sean Leeman and Travis Lee, fullback John Walsh, and wingbacks Nate Littlefield and Tyler Bowen.

“We’ve always had the awesome running backs, but we’ve never relied on one player,” said Nick Thomann, a first-team all-conference center. “It’s always been the coaches figuring out how to go up against another team. It’s never been just one guy.”

One position that has been firmed up, however, is quarterback. Senior Andy Whalen is back for his second season as a full-time starter and will direct the ground game, which is Belfast’s backbone.

Thomann and end Huey Morse, a second-team all-conference tackle, will lead a relatively small but experienced line. One pleasant surprise for the Lions has been Zach Carr, who was a backup quarterback last year and will get some time at defensive end, Arthers said.

The graduation of Aldus and Horne will also be felt in the defensive backfield, where they were both starters.

“We’re back to where we were when they were sophomores,” Arthers said. “We’ve got some senior kids that we’re looking at, but we’ve also got some sophomore kids, too.”

With new faces all over the field, the Lions are taking some time before they set lofty goals.

“Our goal is to go practice by practice,” Morse said, “and try to get better every practice.”

BELFAST LIONS

2004 results: 6-4, lost in PTC Class B semifinals

Co-head coaches: Butch Arthers, 14th year; Butch Richards, 5th year

Key players: Huey Morse, OL-DE, Sr.; Nick Thomann, C-LB, Sr.; Andy Whalen, QB, Sr., Tim Caldwell, OG-DE, Sr.; Tyler Bowen, WB-DB, So.; Sean Leeman, RB-DB, Sr.; Travis Lee, RB-LB, Sr.; Zach Carr, OL-LB, Jr.; John Walsh, FB-LB, Jr.; Jeff Fries, OT-DT, Sr.; Ryan Totman, OG-DT, Sr.; Nate Littlefield, WB-DE, Sr.

Outlook: Belfast, which won the Class B state title in 2003, has a mix of returning starters, with six back on offense and five on defense, and the hope is that they can blend with the less experienced players. The Lions have 55 on their roster.