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What he does have, though, is experience among the starting group on both offense and defense.

Nine players who started on offense last year are coming back, and eight starters return on defense.

Those veterans will be counted on to give the Ramblers leadership, both by example as well as vocally, for the younger players.

Expectations are understandably high followng the Ramblers'sixth consecutive appearance in the state playoffs last season, which unfortunately ended in the first round as Boyne City finished 6-4.

It's early yet. The Ramblers have only practiced in pads for two days, and there's still much for Hills to evaluate before the games begin for real Aug. 24.

Hills felt the opening week of physical conditioning and practice showed that the Ramblers have the necessary athletic skills, and mental focus to make another run at the playoffs.

But, there's still a lot of work to be done.

"There are still a lot of things we need to get into and get better at," Hills said on Sunday afternoon Aug. 12. "Right now, we're just looking at finishing installing our offense and defense.

"We're trying to get enough reps (reptitions)in so that we're proficient at it, and we're executing those things as well as we can right now."

Every position needs to be evaluated and tweaked with the pre-season scrimmage coming up Friday, Aug. 17, at Suttons Bay.

Hoping to escape some of the heat, and also accomodate those players who still have summer jobs, Boyne City has been practicing from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Other than running a youth skills camp right after school let out in June, and their usual weight lifting program, the Ramblers didn't have a 7-on-7 or any other kind of camp.

So, the Ramblers are fresh as they start their second week of practice.

Playoffs still far off dream Like every other team in the state, the Ramblers have set certain goals that they'd like to reach.

Making the playoffs again is obviously one of them. But with the regular season kickoff still a couple of weeks away, and the Lake Michigan Conference schedule to worry about, the Ramblers have been focused on pre-season preparation.

"I think we're so involved in getting our offense, defense and special teams installed, it's hard to look ahead (to the playoffs)," Hills said.

"Not having played any games or anything yet, those things are still pretty far off. Most of what we're concerned with right now is getting proficient at our system, and being as good as we can at the details of our schemes."

The Ramblers should get a good test in the scrimmage Friday with Manistee, Suttons Bay and Pine River all scheduled to participate starting at 11 a.m.

Junior varsity teams will scrimmage at the same time as the varsity, with two fields available at Suttons Bay.

"Suttons Bay is returning a lot of players, and they're a very good football team this year," Hills said. "I know Manistee is a very physical, big football team. They're going to be very good.

"Pine River has a new coach coming in, and they've been very good the last couple of years. So, it (the scrimmage)should be a very good test for us. We'll find some things out." Ê Ê