BAINBRIDGE – For the first time in eight years, B-G head coach Tim Mattingly is not building off a winning season. Typically in the playoff hunt from his first season on the job, the Bobcats lost their first four games last season, but did come on strong late in the year to win three of the last five.
"We talked more about the end of last year and winning those last two games," Mattingly said. "And the Walton and Delhi games – the two weeks before – were pretty competitive, too. We were awful young last year, we started a number of sophomores, and we did go through some growing pains. But we saw steady improvement week to week, the kids bought into what we were doing, and we were playing some pretty good football at the end of the season."
It didn't help that two-way starter Cole Webb, tabbed as the quarterback, injured his hand early in the first game, and didn't resume his starting quarterback duties until half of the season was lost.
"Without Cole, we became too one-dimensional," Mattingly said. "Defenses loaded up on us to stop the run. When we got Cole back, we were able to throw it a bit, and that opened things up in the running game."
Over the last four weeks, Webb was perhaps the most efficient quarterback in Chenango County completing nearly 50 percent of his passes and throwing eight touchdowns. Also, a substantive running game was established behind an offensive line that figures to be a strength of this year's team.
Below, we break down the 2014 Bobcats by position:

BACKFIELD
B-G will turn to a sophomore, Austin Carr, to run the B-G offense. The last time Mattingly had a sophomore starting under center – Corbin Palmer – it worked out pretty well. "He's a pretty athletic kid; strong, fast, and he can throw the ball," Mattingly said of Carr. "And he can run some."
Carr may be a new face in the backfield, but he'll we ably assisted by last year's top rusher, Dylan Moffitt. Moffitt wasn't the go-to halfback until week three, he later missed one game and part of another due to injury, yet still rushed for 745 yards, while averaging over six yards per carry. In the mold of previous bruisers, 220-pounder Tyler Hart is expected to start at fullback. Providing a speed threat as well is varsity newcomer Austin Capalupo. "Dylan is fast, Austin (Capalupo) is fast, and Tyler is fast for his size," Mattingly said. "Austin (Carr) has the tools to lead the offense, and we believe he can do it."
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RECEIVERS/TIGHT END
Last year's leading receiver Mike Carlin went the way of graduation, and the only returning player with a pass reception is Moffitt. B-G isn't usually a throw-first type of team, but Mattingly is comfortable with the receivers he has in camp. Sophomore Zach Ouimet will likely start at tight end. Ouimet's strengths, Mattingly said, are his great hands, good speed, and his willingness to block. At split end is Bailey Green, a returning player, and when Mattingly adds a third receiver to the formation, sophomore Alex DeGroat will help stretch out defenses.

LINEMEN
After some shuffling of players early in the first week of practice, Mattingly is confident with the young men he has in place that always set the tone for the Bobcats' ground attack. Dylan Mondore, a returnee at center, was shifted to right tackle; Mike Shearer is back at right guard, and Phil Ives gives B-G a veteran presence at left tackle. Those three make up the incumbents, the newly minted starters are Mitch Mertz at guard, and Nick Decker. As a freshman, Decker saw some time on the field on defense, but as a sophomore, he'll get the full-time starting nod at center. "He just moved to center, and he's done a great job so far," Mattingly said of Decker.

DEFENSE
Longtime B-G defensive coordinator Jim Mosher stepped back to a less prominent role as a coach this season due to a family situation, and in stepped 48-year Section IV coaching legend Dave Kelly. This past school year, Kelly had stepped down as head coach of Delhi, but during the winter months, still had the itch to coach, and inquired about a position with B-G after a meeting with Bobcats AD, Greg Warrren. "Dave had Greg ask me about having a volunteer coach on staff (in 2014), and I said yes (to Dave) without hesitation," Mattingly said. Other than its wins over Unadilla Valley and Watkins Glen, B-G's defense was not its typically strong self. With Kelly on board running the defense, B-G will switch to more five-man fronts "He's teaching the kids the new schemes and reading keys versus different offensive sets," Mattingly said of Kelly. "We're more experienced and more athletic on defense this year. We'll be more physical, and we expect to be a much better defensive team."

OUTLOOK
The season schedule and division play has few friendly spots in it, but B-G may be up to the task this year with healthy pieces in place and better defensive play. Unatego, Walton, and Delhi present particularly difficult obstacles to B-G's playoff aspirations. Early-season non-leaguers against Dryden and Sidney will also test the Bobcats' mettle. "If we can gel in a hurry, I think we'll be pretty competitive," Mattingly said. "It's hard to make a prediction with only four seniors. We're still young and we'll make young mistakes, but we should be better with more experience."

QUOTABLE
"I don't have to worry about the defensive side of the ball. (Dave Kelly) talks to you, he tells you what he's doing, and he does a great job teaching the game to kids. He has incredible energy and passion, and we're thrilled to have him." –– Tim Mattingly