A casual observer of high school football might see all the losses Parkland took to graduation and think the team could be in for a rebuilding year.

A closer look reveals an abundance of talent returning at the some of less high-profile positions.

The Trojans bring back three members of last year’s offensive line, which could make this year’s offense just as potent as it was last season.

Three-year starter Patrick Ferry (6-foot-3, 315 pounds) will play left tackle after spending his sophomore year at right tackle and junior year at left guard. Second-year starters Alex Van Woert (5-10, 210) and Andrew Perry (5-11, 230) are also returning. They are both seniors this year.

Juniors Mike Novak (5-9, 200) and Jake Correll (5-10, 255) are expected to fill in the two spots left open by graduation.

“It’s looking good,” said Ferry. “We’re feeling good about this year. We’ve built a really good bond over the years. We’ve been together since freshman ball. In the offseason we do everything together.”

The Trojans lost most of their offensive skill players to graduation in quarterback Devante Cross, running back Erik DiGirolamo, wide receiver Kenny Yeboah and do-it-all athlete Nolan Ridgeway. But there is talent waiting in the wings.

Seniors Frank Guida and Nick Suriel, along with juniors Jahan Worth and Mason Malozzi give the Trojans’ a solid stable of running backs. Returning seniors Zach Bross and Carrick Panella will play receiver and be the most likely targets for first-year starting quarterback Michael Ruisch.

“We can fill the spots,” said Bross, who returns at receiver and safety. “Last year [the seniors] gave us a lot of leadership and now we’re giving a lot of leadership to the underclassmen.”

Parkland’s defense suffered even fewer losses to graduation. The unit returns several starters from last year’s team and could be the strength of this year’s squad.

“Parkland is always a defensive team,” said Bross. “Coach [Tim] Moncman is a defensive guy and we really like our defense.”

Seniors DJ Hohman and Palmer Kerch return to the defensive front. Linebackers Guida, Nate Weider, Worth and Malozzi will play behind them with Ethan Imler, Bross and Panella in the defensive backfield.

The Trojans will head into the season, like most years, with a target on their back. They’re four-time defending District 11 champs and are coming off a run to the state title game.

“Just to have that on our back builds our motivation,” said Ferry. “We want to keep doing our job and keep getting better every week. We know that everybody is coming for us and giving us their A game every time we step on the field.”

“We’re real excited,” said Bross. “We want to get back to where we were last year, back to Hershey, but it’s week by week.”