“Last year we treated that spring season almost as a preseason and really expanded our playbook for the fall season,” Miller said about the offense. “We were able to do a lot with the passing game that we haven’t been able to do in past years. It was probably one of the more successful years passing I’ve had as a coach.”

KEY LOSSES: Cattaraugus-Little Valley lost most of its key components to the passing game. Some of those departures include quarterback Josh Halterman, Gage Furl, Chris Hines and Dakota Allen.

KEY RETURNEES: Dominic Martinez, Zayn Pacyliak and Raiden Terhune were highlighted as the key pieces returning for the Timberwolves.

“Those guys got a ton of snaps last year,” Miller said. “Some of them were on both sides of the ball. We look to their experience and their knowledge of what we’re trying to accomplish. They’re going to be big and we’re going to really need that up front because of the inexperience behind it.”

Front row, from left, are Justin Sills, Walker Janora, Zayn Pacyliak, Danny Wright, Chase Marshall, Noah Fuller. Back row, from left, Hunter McInerney, Malaki Green, Dominic Martinez, Raiden Terhune, Michael Brewer, Zayn Pacyliak, Perry Snyder.

OUTLOOK FOR CLASS D: The Timberwolves recognize they are playing in one of the toughest regions for Class D football in all of New York state.

“I think if you look around the state you’re going to find that the best Class D football is found in Western New York,” Miller stated. “I think it’s because we have more schools that play Class D football and it’s just so competitive. That’s why you see us send so many teams into that state title hunt with such a good chance.”

Like most teams, Cattaraugus-Little Valley is just hoping to improve from week to week.

“I know as a veteran coach that it might be rough at first,” Miller said. “We’re going to have some inexperienced-type mistakes and some inexperienced-type of play. The job for us is to get those kids to learn from those setbacks and to move forward.”

KEY GAME: Cattaraugus-Little Valley doesn’t have one team in particular circled on the schedule, but it recognizes the strength of the teams scheduled.

Front row, from left, are James Hines, Donald Seamon, Brandon Young. Back row, from left, are Cam Young, Matt Benzel, Payton Bradley, Hunter Church.

“It’s so competitive around here,” Miller added. “Almost every town has a Class D football team. The tough part is we’re still one school and we face quite a few that have merged. On our schedule we’ve had Randolph/Frewsburg in the past, Franklinville/Ellicottville, we face Gowanda/Pine Valley and we’re just us. That puts us a little behind the eight-ball when we’re trying to compete at that level, but we keep scrapping and we’ll keep coming back.”

Miller hopes that the experience on the line and in the skill positions comes together eventually and the Timberwolves will find their best success.

“Eventually we’re going to hit that year where our line guys and our skill players line up,” Miller added.

Front row, from left, are Danny Wright, Perry Snyder, Donald Seamon, Michael Brewer. Back row, from left, are Dominic Martinez, Raiden Terhune, Malaki Green, Thomas Bonin.