CABOT PANTHERS
Conference: 7A-Central
Head coach: Mike Malham, Jr.
Record last year: 6-4, 3-4
Points scored, points allowed: 190-165
Playoff appearances since 1968: 21
Last playoff appearance: 2004
Playoff record: 30-19

Key returning starters: DE Daniel Hillenburg, NM Kyle Deblock, DT Ben Ford, DT Cody Myers, OG L.J. Tarrant.

Outlook: Four of Cabot's front five defenders return on a defense that allowed only 16.5 points per game last year. The defense, which returns six starters in all, wasn't a problem for the Panthers last year. The usually-reliable, time-tested Dead-T offense only managed 190 points last season but returns six starters as well, including four of Cabot's seven linemen.

Comments from Malham: "We should have more size and speed then we've had in a while. We will be young, though; not many seniors. Not a lot of size by all three defensive linemen, but all started as sophomores and they are getting stronger in off-season. We hope to be in the thick of things and back in the playoffs. A lot of teams in our conference should be better."