It'll be a new look Wyalusing team this year, especially in the skill positions. The Rams graduated 10 seniors, and most of them were the backs and receivers of the past couple years.

"We definitely have a lot of holes," First year coach Jeffrey Hindman said. "I was going through looking at everything we've lost, but we've got a lot of guys that are ready to step up, and take that opportunity. It's going to be fun to see who wants it, who's hungry."

They don't have those issues on the line, though, as they return three starters from a year ago, and those guys are hungry to get out on the field.

"I'm very excited to give it my all this year," senior JJ Latini said. "We're switching it up on the offensive line a little bit, just trying new things with a new coaching staff and all that, but they're doing a good job."

Latini admits there's a little bit of a learning curve with learning a new system.

"It's a little hard because I've been taught the same way by the same coach," he said. "It's different but it should work. It's kind of exciting because of a little bit of the unknown factor."

They know, though, that if they do anything offensively this year it's going to start up front.

"The line is definitely the starting point to rebuild the offense because without the line, the plays don't work," fellow senior Jesse Lamb said. "You can't throw the ball without a line, you can't run the ball without a line."

Those two along with Connor Earle will be the base that Hindman builds them around.

"I'm excited about that," Hindman said. "Seeing your veteran guys that can help bring the younger guys along."

They do bring back tight end Andrew Taylor, who hauled in 11 catches for 280 yards and five touchdowns last season. 

However, they have to find a way to replace 1,700-yards worth of rushing and over 500-yards of passing through the air.

"That's a hard thing to look at because they're so many of them," Hindman said about those replacements. "We've got a kid, Patrick O'Connor,' he's a sophomore and he got some playing time on varsity. Eddie Anderson's another guy in the running back position. I've got a couple kids at the quarterback position. It's hard to say at this point because there's so many out there, and it's going to be interesting to see how they fit."

Latini is hoping they open up the playbook with the new players.

"We didn't get much from ground-and-pound last year," he said. "We pushed the field a lot but we couldn't complete those drives. We need more passing."

It's the same thing on defense for the Rams, they have experience up front but dwindles the further back they go.

"I've got some returners along the front, I've got a couple returning linebackers," Hindman said. "Guys who might have gotten some work in the secondary, but every year's a new year just seeing how the kids have grown."

Lamb excelled at swatting passes a year ago, something he hopes to continue in 2026.

"I would love to," he said. "I'm more or less trying to do my job, and play as a team, not focus on myself. We're focusing on just trying to keep everybody in front of us, and not letting anybody over the top. That way there's no big busted plays that shouldn't happen."

There's a lot of questions marks going into the season but that hasn't stopped Wyalusing from setting team goals, and one of those goals is pulling out the close games. That hurt the Rams early - losing those 50/50 match-ups - and their season snowballed to 2-8 from there.

"We would get into each other's heads," said Latini. "We always argued about stuff, so we have to try to come together as a team and talk about it. We have a leadership council now, and we'll take care of it amongst the team."

They're hoping to start the season off strong when they host Athens on August 28, and then go from there.

"We want to win those close games, and have a lot of fun with my friends," said Lamb. 

ROSTER

JJ Latini (12)

Ryne McAllister (12)

Trenton Phillips (12)

Jacob Gromley (12)

Jesse Lamb (12)

Michael Donnelly (11)

Conner Earle (11)

Andrew Taylor (11)

Landry Tinna (11)

Ethan Dietz (10)

Matthew Ferguson (10)

Trentyn Gardner (10)

Dillon Gonsauls (10)

Sullivan McCracken (10)

Patrick O'Connor (10)

Wiley Trobaugh (10)

Edward Anderson (9)

Patrick Dahl (9)

Xander Higley (9)

Owen Kaufman (9)

Thomas Lineberry (9)

Liam Salsman-Kluth (9)

SCHEDULE

Aug. 28 vs Athens, 7 p.m.

Sep. 3 vs Muncy, 6 p.m.

Sep. 11 at Canton, 7 p.m.

Sep. 18 at CV, 7 p.m.

Sep. 26 vs Sayre, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Montgomery, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9 vs South Williamsport, 7 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Wellsboro, 7 p.m.

Oct. 23 vs Troy, 7 p.m.

Oct. 30 at Towanda, 7 p.m.