THREE-YEAR varsity player Michael Pappas is the starting quarterback for the Bruins.

Going 2-8 overall last season and winless in the Tri-County Athletic League didn’t sit well with the St. Patrick-St. Vincent High varsity football team. Most of the starters from that team are back for 2016, and they expect a much different result this time around.

“They came in this year with a purpose and have high expectations,” said SPSV head coach Lane Hawkins. “The last few years have been labors of learning and growing to get to this point. Hopefully we see the fruits of those labors.”

The Bruins were the only TCAL-Rock team that didn’t make the playoffs in 2015, but if experience is worth anything, a postseason berth this year is a realistic goal. SPSV returns 17 players, most of whom saw regular action last year.

Seniors Michael Pappas and Anthony Olmes have split time at quarterback over the past two seasons, but Olmes has been moved to wide receiver – a position he would likely play at the college level. That opens the door for Pappas to be the fulltime signal caller.

“He understands the reads and the coverages,” Hawkins said of Pappas. “He’s been a real good leader for us.”

SPSV is loaded at the skill positions. Olmes was named to the All-TCAL Second Team for offense last year and will line up opposite his brother – Alex Olmes – at receiver. Kailon Johnson-Loud (another All-TCAL Second Team selection) returns at wideout, and senior Marquel Johnson was solid last year before suffering a torn ACL three games into the 2015 season.

“The goal is to spread things out and get the defense thinking about the pass so it will help us run the ball,” Hawkins said. “You have to be able to run the ball but we want to open it up and establish a passing game.”

Junior Marshel Martin and senior Tyler Chesney return at running back, with speedy sophomore Jamonte Barrett another running threat. Chesney is a powerful back who broke his hand last year. Martin is 6-foot-2, 200 pounds and runs a 4.6 40-yard dash.

“He’s a big kid and is still growing,” Hawkins said of Martin. “When we spread things out, he doesn’t need a lead blocker because he initiates the punishment on a linebacker or lineman. If he can get us five or six yards a pop, we’re good.”

Opening holes up front are veteran starting center Drew Gilmore and veteran starting tackle Devin Devlin. Both players are stronger and faster than last year, and with 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior Shiteng “Amos” Jiang (a foreign exchange student from China) back at left tackle, the Bruins can provide some beef in the trenches. Sophomores D’Mylo Dillahunty and Nathan Olmes are expected to start at guard, and senior Daniel Basurto has varsity experience.

Explosive junior Ryan Lacey will start at defensive end, with the rest of the defensive line filled by the same guys playing on the offensive line. SPSV’s defense allowed only one sack during a scrimmage in Dixon last Saturday, and that was because of a mis-read by the quarterback.

“Our line is going to be the key,” Hawkins said. “If our line can do well, we should be pretty successful.”

Martin started at outside linebacker last year and plays the same role this season. Noah Maher has moved from outside linebacker to weak inside linebacker, with Chesney at middle linebacker and Jaylen Crooms providing depth. Marquel Johnson was a starting cornerback last year before getting injured and Isaiah Tobias returns at the other starting corner spot. Anthony Olmes and Marcus Gay return at safety, with Barrett and Murvin Kenion adding depth to the defensive backfield.

Gabriel Fuentes will do the place kicking this season, with Anthony Olmes as the punter.

The Bruins open the season with four straight road games beginning Friday night at Ygnacio Valley. If the Bruins learned anything after last season, they should make a run at a North Coast Section playoff berth this year.

“Because of our experience, we’re able to make adjustments on the fly and not have to go into detailed explanations,” Hawkins said. “They know where to go and can execute it because they have the experience doing it.”

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