"We have guarded optimism. We've had a lot of players graduate," he said. "Last year, we had a big experienced offensive line. This year, we have more athletic kids, but less experience."

The Niagara Falls school practised on the field with contact for the first time this week.

"We hope to be competitive and better," he said. "We have a lot of good, young Grade 11 players. Their bodies still have to mature, so unless they are a freak (of nature), we'll have to wait until they get bigger in Grade 12."

Second-year quarterback, Nick Sanduleauc, meanwhile likes his new team.

"We are looking pretty good. I like our chances," said the 5-foot-9 pivot. "I think we can win them all."

Sanduleauc said he is confident in the new offence around him.

Scozzafava, meanwhile, has liked the potential he has seen for the Mustangs' ground game.

"New running back Curtis Sauve is extremely athletic and really knows how to break a tackle," said Scozzafava. "We lost a lot of interior linemen, we're going to have a fast offensive line. You want the right kind of kid in there."

The team finished with a 4-3 record last year and will have to find it's strength in time to battle the Blessed Trinity Thunder at home September 19. Earlier in the year, the Premier division's schedule was cut from seven games to just five. In week two, the Mustangs take on the the Premier Division defending champion Lakeshore Catholic Gators from Port Colborne, who kicked the Mustangs out of the semifinals last year 17-13. For the team's third match, they take on a Notre Dame Fighting Irish squad that is also having offensive line issues.

"I've been looking around the school," said Notre Dame coach Tim Bisci. "We don't have a lot of big kids."

In week four, Saint Michael squares off against the Denis Morris Redmen, who they crushed 58-6 last season. To finish up the season, they take on Falls rival Saint Paul.