ILION — The Central Valley Academy football team will lean on the ground game and an experienced defense as the Thunder aim to compete for a league title this season and a postseason berth.

The Thunder, who finished 4-4 last season and lost to eventual Class B champion Homer in the quarterfinals of the Section III playoffs, have 13 seniors, 17 juniors and one sophomore on the 31-player roster.

“We had a lot of kids put a lot of time in over the summer so we are looking pretty good for this early in the year,” said CVA coach Jon Cole, who is in his 18th year as head coach and 25th overall in the program. “We expect to contend for a league title and qualify for playoffs.”

The seniors are: running back/defensive back, Sixx Cook; wide receiver/defensive back, Miles Perry; running back/linebacker, Tanner Warren; wide receiver/defensive back, Zachery View; running back-strong safety, Samuel Jacquays; tight end/defensive end, Hudson Albrecht; wide receiver/defensive back, Tyler Lopez; running back/linebacker, Raymond Watson; running back/defensive back, Nathan Shaver; offensive lineman/defensive lineman, Salvatore Fresco; offensive lineman/defensive lineman, Ethan Randall; offensive lineman/defensive lineman, Michael Yardley and offensive lineman/defensive lineman, Austin Becker.

The juniors are: wide receiver/defensive back, Connor Dempsey; quarterback/defensive back, Braden Moreau; wide receiver/defensive back, Braydin Clark; running back/linebacker, Janarious Howard; running back/linebacker, Landon Lafountain; running back/linebacker, Jadyn Dixon; wide receiver/defensive back, Thomas Jacquays; tight end/defensive end, Elias Vega; tight end/defensive end, Peter Macri; wide receiver/defensive back, Hunter Smith; offensive lineman/defensive lineman, Aiden Wilcox; offensive lineman/defensive lineman, Connor Obreza; offensive lineman/defensive lineman, Jonathan Macri; offensive lineman/defensive lineman, Isaiah Cool; offensive lineman/defensive lineman, Zachary Cool; offensive lineman/defensive lineman, Connor Dyn and tight end/defensive end, Matthew Dennis.

The sophomore is offensive lineman/defensive lineman, Jeremy McRedmond.

“Our strengths will be our strong run game complimented with an experienced defense,” Cole said. “Our weakness will be our passing game but should improve tremendously as our new player caller (Braden Moreau) gains confidence.”

The Thunder will compete in the five-team Class B North East Division along with Camden, Indian River, Oneida and South Jefferson.

“Perennial Class A power Indian River moving down to Class B should be the team to beat in the Class B North East,” Cole said.

CVA, which hosted Fonda-Fultonville in a non-league game on Sept. 2 and was edged 13-12, and visits Homer on Friday, Sept. 9.

CVA players to watch

Sr. RB/LB Sam Jacquays, Sr. RB/LB Nate Shaver, Sr. RB/LB Tanner Warren, Sr. TE/DE Hudson Albrecht, Sr. OL/DE Ethan Randall, Jr. OL/DL Salvatore Fresco, Jr. OL/DL Connor Obreza, Sr. WR/FS Miles Perry, Sr. RB/LB Sixx Cook, Sr. RB/LB Ray Watson, Jr. QB/DB Braden Moreau, Jr. RB/LB Landon Lafountain, Jr. WR/DB Connor Dempsey, So. OL/DL Jeremy McRedmond.

CVA’s notable losses

WR/DB/punter/kicker Cole Brewer, WR/FS/return specialist Aaxiver Howard, QB Chase Brewer.