FAIRFIELD – As Lawrence football coach Brad Bishop sat in his office (which is actually the equipment room as the school builds new locker areas), the loud music and clanging coming from the weight room above made it hard to hear him talk about the Bulldogs’ prospects for the season.

The noise is fine with Bishop. His kids may not be the biggest he’s coached, but they make up for it in strength.

“Our kids are pretty athletic this year,” he said. “They’re not very big, but they’re in good shape.”

That may show up in the backfield, where Lawrence experienced its most significant graduation losses. Fullback Don Thibodeau and tailback Troy Savage turned in some of the best numbers in the Pine Tree Conference last year, combining for 1,707 rushing yards. They were ranked fourth and fifth in the league, respectively.

The Bulldogs believe they will fill in for the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Thibodeau with Justin Walker, Matt Kent, Keith Palmer, and Roy Lawrence, backs who are all in the 150- to 160-pound range. Walker has been tabbed as Thibodeau’s replacement.

“Justin’s a lot smaller than Donnie was, but he’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever met as far as running the ball,” said senior lineman Alex Pellerin.

The small but quick backfield should fit well with

a wing-T offense that involves

a lot of misdirection and motion.

“We have a little bit of inexperience and we don’t have a lot of size in the backfield,” Bishop said. “But I don’t use that as a weakness because they’re very fast and athletic. They’re just not very big.”

Size does meet strength on the line, however, and the Bulldogs have plenty of starters back.

Returners include center Mike Mestieri (210 pounds); tackles Gary Quirion, Jim McCafferty (about 250 each) and Pellerin (180); Adam Foley (170), a PVC second-team honoree at offensive guard; and tight end Pete McLaughlin (185), a PVC honorable mention.

“We have what I feel is going to be a very good offensive line,” Bishop said. “So there is some size there. They’re very strong and they move pretty well.”

Kent was a PVC honorable mention as a defensive back.

Quarterback Jared Bragdon will take over the offense this fall, replacing graduated Barry Quirion (Gary Quirion’s brother). Bragdon played a little last year when Quirion went down with an injury. Bishop liked what he saw from the then-junior.

“He came in against Cony last year when Barry was hurt and he went 5-for-7, threw a couple of touchdown passes, and had a great game,” Bishop said.

Bragdon is on the small side for a quarterback (5-8, 165). But that’s just the way things are for Lawrence this year.

“He plays with a lot of poise, he’s under control, he’s cool,” Bishop said. “He’s not the biggest kid in the world, but he gets the job done.”

LAWRENCE BULLDOGS

2000 results: 6-3, lost in PTC semifinal

Head coach: Brad Bishop, 5th year

Key players: Gary Quirion, OT-DT, Jr.; Jim McCafferty, OT-DT, Sr.; Mike Mestieri, C-DE, Sr.; Adam Foley, OG-DE, Sr.; Alex Pellerin, OT-LB, Sr.; Pete McLaughlin, TE-LB, Jr.; Matt Kent, HB-DB, Jr.; Roy Lawrence, HB-SS, Sr.; Jared Bragdon, QB, Sr.; Justin Walker, FB, Sr.; Keith Palmer, HB, Jr.

Outlook: Bishop called this year’s squad one of the smartest he’s coached and a wealth of juniors and seniors has made for a poised team as well. Numbers are up from about 37 last year to 43 this year. The Bulldogs will stick with the same 52 defense they’ve employed since 1969. Pellerin said Lawrence is eager for its Homecoming game against Oxford Hills – the team that knocked Lawrence out of the playoffs.