Returning receiver Rocco Roy will be a key cog in the Bishop Guertin offense. (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 weekend’s Telegraph print edition, complete with schedules, last year’s results, team photos, and much more)

NASHUA – The Bishop Guertin High School football team won’t be sneaking up on anybody this season.

Too many preseason predictions,polls, etc. once August hit had the Cardinals ranked anywhere in the top three of Division I contenders.

And they know it.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Cards senior offensive lineman Bishop Kearns said as the team opens tonight vs. city rival Nashua North at 6:30 at Stellos Stadium. “We have high expectations, everybody’s here to play.”

And meet the team’s expectations, not anyone else’s.

“We set our own expectations, obviously,” Cards coach Anthony Nalen said. “So every year we set our expectations, try to live up to that standard, and nothing’s different this year. Our expectations and standard is higher this year than in years past, and that’s self imposed. We just try to chip away at it every day.”

What are those predictions based on? A solid line, led by Kearns plus huge sophomore Vinnie Nalen, who has four Division I college offers – already. He is a tone setter because the Cards are starting as many as seven sophomores this year, Nalen said.

“He’s worked really hard this off-season, the whole offensive line did,” Nalen said. “They’ll be part of our ability to win football games.”

BG graduated three key linemen but picked up a transfer from Manchester Central, center Gabe Frederickson, and they have senior Leo Liberatore and a transfer from Milford, Joe Schnitzler.

Guertin’s initial goal is to get over the quarterfinal hump and reach the semifinals. BG, which has lost to Nashua South the last two seasons in the prelims then last year in the quarters, has not been to the semis in Division I since 2014.

There’s eight returnings starters on offense. Behind that line is now a three year starter at quarterback, Nate Bowen.

Nalen remembers when Bowen was a freshman in the orientation his first year “And now he is where he is,” the coach said. “He’s seen the highs, he’s seen the lows, and now he’s the field general. He’s been awesome for us.”

Othee key returnees include senior running back Logan Curran, junior Deion Sisay out wide with heralded senior receiver Rocco Roy. Roy, as Nalen said, “opens up stuff for the other guys.”

BG lost some good defensive players to graduation “so there’s some holes we’ve got to replace” but they do have seven back in that unit. Leaders include junior Jackson Humphrey at linebacker, senior corner Cam Faulds, Kearns up front, etc.

“We definitely have guys we’ll lean on there,” Nalen said. “Of the three years I’ve been here last year was our best defensive year in terms of points per game. We weren’t in a lot of shootouts – a few – but not as many as years past, so we’re hoping that continues.”

Bowen may not be placekicking this year. Guertin has a freshman from Nashua, Jameson Maxwell, who is nationally ranked in the top 20-30 in the country as the result of attending national camps.

“It might take a little bit of a load off of Nate,” Nalen said. “Nate’s won us some big games with some kicks, but him not having to worry about that as much is less of a burden on him.”

And now BG will try to live up to the hype.

“Experience is a big part of it,” Nalen said. “We have a lot of guys who have played a lot of big games for us. We’ve got five or six guys who have played 30 games for us since their freshman year. …

“We’ve got the pieces.Now they have to go out and perform.”