Merrimack will be small but athletic on both sides of the ball. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

(Editor’s Note: This is part of The Telegraph’s annual Football Preview Tab Insert Section that will be found in this Sunday’s Telegraph print edition, complete with schedules, last year’s results, team photos, and much more)

MERRIMACK – The battle continues at Merrimack High School to, as they usually do, remain competitive and perhaps even take the next step.

But you usually know what you’ll get with the Tomahawks.

“We’ll be similar to last year in terms of having a balanced offense, and we’ll have a number of seniors this year (about 16) so hopefully that’ll help us be bigger, faster, stronger,” Tomahawks head coach Kip Jackson said. “And help us be more effective defensively. Once again it’s just a great group of kids….Looking forward to seeing the kids that have been in the program for four years and they’ve progressed.”

Merrimack last year finished 4-4 regular season (5-4 overall) and a loss to Alvirne kept it out of the playoffs. But with experience that may change this season, as senior Maverick Torres returns at QB to guide the offense after baptism under fire last year.

“You can see the difference in just his recognition of what we want to do but what the defense is trying to do,” Jackson said. “But more importantly you can see the difference in his leadership ability and how much more he’s matured. He’s evolved physically as well as a person.”

Seniors Andrew Minichiello (about 230 pounds and Carter Anderson return to anchor an offensive line that will have several others competing.

Who will Torres throw to? Jackson feels senior Steven Doyle has slid under the radar a bit and Sam Demas, a starter on defense, will see more time on the other side of the ball too. Kaiden Okowuga, another senior, will also be a wideout.

The ‘Hawks have three senior backs – Carter Demaggio, Gabe Gorman and Landon LeBlanc – and sophomore Cash Torres (Maverick’s younge brother).

Defensively, it’s an experienced group with returnees Demas (corner), Doyle (safety), Demaggio (linebacker), George Fitzgerald (linebacker) plus Minichiello on the line.All are seniors. Okuwuga, LeBlanc, junior Owen Minefield, etc. help fill out an athletic secondary.

Junior Brogan Matte will place LeBlanc will punt.

The key for the ‘Hawks will be depth.

“For us health is the big issue,” Jackson said. “We don’t have a lot of numbers, so just managing that. … Just because we have so many seniors who have played a lot of snaps, we’ll be OK. But we won’t know (for sure) until the middle of the season.”

That’s because the schedule is conference heavy for the first half. Either way, it’s go time.