In the last seven years, the Saint Anne's-Belfield football team has more state championships (3) than seasons with less than seven wins (2).
STAB is hoping to rebound from a season without the playoffs in 2011 though.
Saint Anne's-Belfield has won six state titles in John Blake's 15 seasons as head coach.
"It motivates you a lot, because you see how the school shows and shows, and you just want to be a part of it, because it's really impressive," said STAB senior defensive end/offensive tackle Aaron Stinnie.
But STAB finished 5-5 last season and didn't make the postseason after winning a state championship in 2010.
"We were disappointed last year," said Blake. "We were. We lost some games early that we felt like we shouldn't have lost. Our guys understand what we're doing. We talk about it the first day, and then we don't bring it up again."
"That motivates us a lot coming off that state championship team," said STAB senior center Nathan Silver. "We wanted to do it again, but unfortunately, it didn't go our way. We really want to get back there. That's one of the biggest goals, getting back into the playoffs."
Two-time all-state running back Branford Rogers graduated in the spring.
"You don't replace Branford," said Blake.
"You don't get guys like that a whole lot," said sophomore quarterback Jake Allen.
Senior Justin Paton and freshman Bobby Nickelson are competing at tailback to fill the void.
On defense, two-time all-state linebackers Shane Palmateer and Antoine Curry also graduated.
"You don't lose that guys, guys of that caliber, and not have a weakness automatically," said Blake.
"It's different having those guys, because Antoine and Shane, they were really big power-houses back there," said Stinnie.
"Shane was definitely a big leader on this team," Silver said. "He's someone I looked up to. Now that he's gone, we have to fill his shoes."
Palmateer, who earned Old Dominion Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year, also earned second-team all-conference as a running back.
STAB does return six starters on offense and defense, including Allen, who was the first freshman to play quarterback for the Saints under Blake.
"When I came out here last year, I had no idea what to expect," said Allen, who earned all-state honorable mention. "All the guys were new. It was very intimidating."
"Jake did great," said Blake. "He handled himself very well. A couple of games he put us on his back and carried us. He's a very good athlete, and if we can put Jake in the right spot and give him the opportunity to succeed, he'll do well. He played middle school football for us, and we knew right off, when he was down there, that he was the future. We didn't quite want to make it that quick, but we made that choice. I'll be honest with you, I don't think Jake lost any games for us last year. He's an incredible athlete, and I'm glad he's on our team."
"He brings a lot to the table," said Stinnie. "He can throw, rush, drop out of the pocket. He can do it all pretty much. He's really essential to the team. You just have complete faith in him, because you've seen what he can do, and you just know he's going to come out and perform."
"Jake does it all," said Silver. "He can throw. He can pass. Being a freshman last year, of all people, he really stepped it up. I'm really hoping he continues on, gets better."
"With the guys that are coming back this year, we have a lot of chemistry, and I have a lot of confidence in the line this year," said Allen.
The offensive line has four starters back, ready to lead the Saints back to the playoffs.
"It's like Christmas morning when you step back in the pocket, and you can't see over the line, just because those guys are big," said Allen. "It's reassuring."
Saint Anne's-Belfield opens the season August 31 at Bishop Sullivan Catholic in Virginia Beach.
STAB also graduated Dylan Park, who earned first-team all-state as a returner and second-team all-state as a wide receiver.
Two-time second-team all-state defensive lineman and fullback Charles Sipe also graduated, and first-team all-state offensive lineman Josh Gibson is no longer on the team.
The Saints return second-team all-state defensive back Miles Davis as both starting cornerbacks return from 2011's team, along with three defensive line starters.
