WINSLOW – Mike Siviski typically is understated when assessing the potential of the Winslow High football team, especially during preseason.

And especially this year.

“I have no idea how we’re going to develop,” said the Black Raiders’ veteran head coach.

Winslow advanced to the Eastern Maine Class B championship game last year before falling to Gardiner, the eventual state champion.

That effort came after a run of four regional titles in the previous seven years.

The last two seasons have been followed by significant graduation losses, including last spring with the likes of the versatile James Wood and wide receiver Ben Grant, both now at Husson College in Bangor, and lineman Don Clark, who accepted an athletic scholarship from the University of Maine but chose to leave the program during preseason.

Winslow returns a nucleus of upperclassmen led by All-Pine Tree Conference Class B linebacker Eric Bezanson, quarterback Scott Siviski and two-way linemen Don Wendell and Ryan Rancourt.

But overall the Black Raiders aren’t as experienced as they’ve been in recent years.

“We have some players from each class,” said coach Siviski of the composition of his team. “We have some seniors who are playing for the first time, and they’re trying to get some game experience.”

Scott Siviski inherits the fulltime quarterback duties after sharing the job last year. He also is an efficient place-kicker, having made a 35-yard field goal and 39 of 41 extra-point attempts.

At 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, Bezanson will be a featured presence at fullback. Senior Lucas Jones, a transfer from New Hampshire, will work at tailback along with juniors Ben Fredette and Cody Souviney, while junior Charlie Kriegel will play wingback.

Ryan Pelletier, injured last year, is back at tight end, while Wendell and Rancourt will be joined on the line by guards Jake Pellerin and Jake Ruby and tackle Ryan Martin.

Senior Derek Clark will play nose guard in Winslow’s defense, flanked by Martin, Wendell and Rancourt at tackle and Pelletier and sophomore John McCabe at end.

Bezanson anchors the defense at linebacker, along with senior Jeff LaFrance.

Scott Siviski, Fredette, Souviney, Jones and Kriegel all will see duty in the secondary.

“Hopefully as the season goes along we can improve our depth,” coach Siviski said. “I don’t know too many teams that have depth at this point.

Tradition suggests the Black Raiders will be in the thick of the Pine Tree Conference Class B football race again this fall, though coach Siviski is taking a wait-and-see attitude.

“I have no idea how we’ll be,” he said. “I think the top teams in the league will be Morse [of Bath], Leavitt [of Turner Center], Mount Desert Island, Gardiner and Waterville. Those teams should be right up there.”

WINSLOW BLACK RAIDERS

2007 results: 8-3, Eastern Maine Class B finalist

Head coach: Mike Siviski, 22nd year

Key players: Eric Bezanson, Sr., FB-LB; Scott Siviski, Sr., QB-DB-PK; Ryan Rancourt, Sr., OT-DT; Jeff LaFrance, Sr., FB-LB; Dan Wendell, Sr., C-DT; Charlie Kriegel, Jr., WB-DB; Cody Souviney, Jr., TB-DB; Derek Clark, Sr., OL-NG

Outlook: Graduation hit the Black Raiders hard again, leaving the team with one of its more inexperienced lineups in recent years. Still, the leadership of Bezanson and Scott Siviski, solid line play and typically aggressive defense should land Winslow back in the playoffs, though its season opener at Mount Desert Island may offer a glimpse into the immediate future of both teams.