SHEFFIELD — After years of football membership in the Allegheny Mountain League as a District 10 team, the Sheffield Wolverines are now property of District 9 and still playing in the AML North Division.

Third-year head coach Scott Park hopes that the change in district affiliation brings some success. He’s trying to reverse the trend of his first two years at the helm, back-to-back 3-6 teams.

Park is in his ninth year with the program and in his fourth season since being hired as a teacher at Sheffield. Prior to that, Park was employed at Abraxas in nearby Marienville. The reform school has helped stock the Sheffield football program for at least the past decade.

Even with Park’s background working on both sides of the co-op, he probably holds the most challenging coaching job in D-9 football. Holding together a program with such diverse student backgrounds can be frustrating and rewarding all at the same time.

The Wolverines will take a 44-man roster into Friday’s season opener at Brockway. Of that total, 20 players are from Abraxas.

"This year is a different ballgame," Park said of his team’s makeup this year. "We’re not as talented as last year, but I think we’ll be a better team."

Park says that the chemistry so far this year is much better than last year’s frustrating campaign that yielded three wins, fewer than his preseason goal.

"Our biggest asset is we have kids from Sheffield who are willing to work and listen and kids from Abraxas that have been around football," Park said. "Last year, we had kids who weren’t around football. We’re so far more advanced than last year. I wish we were further along, but it’s night and day."

The Wolverines will need to get contributions from some inexperienced players, especially on the defensive line. Offensively, two linemen are back -- seniors Tyler Fitch and Jeremy Snell. Fitch returns to right guard while Snell moves from center to left tackle. Junior Ed Renninger moves from fullback to left guard to try to bolster the trenches for the Wolverines.

Behind the line, Park looks to senior Jeremy Borst to take over the starting quarterback spot. Borst started games at QB his sophomore season and the beginning of last year before he was moved to split end.

"Jeremy is a good QB," Park said. "Last year, he got frustrated. We were inexperienced on the line. He has the ability and this year, he’s getting more time (in the pocket) and getting comfortable."

Borst’s top returning target is senior Walt Elmquist, the slotback. Senior Cody Elms is the split end.

Seniors David Vargas and Scott Lazor will work at fullback while seniors Damir Carroll and Steven Sixt will see time at tailback. Sixt is the team’s leading returning rusher, but Park said all four will get carries.

"All four backs are interchangeable," Park said.

On defense, no starters return on the line. Seniors Snell and Steven Page along with Ryan Johnston and DeShawn Overton will rotate at the two tackle spots. Junior Cole Fitch and senior Frisco Brown will be on the ends.

Inside linebackers Tyler Fitch and Renninger return as starters and anchor the Wolverines’ defense. Sixt, Vargas, senior Todd Guyaux and junior Chris Meacham will play in the two outside linebacker spots.

In the secondary, Elmquist, Borst and senior Gary Winston will work at the cornerback spots. Elms or sophomore Jason Borst will be the safety.

With the open Class AA playoff setup in D-9 this year, Park is hoping that his school’s debut season in the district yields a playoff spot. Again, the Wolverines are gunning for a winning season.

"You always have to be optimistic," Park said. "Looking at the schedule and the two weeks (of scrimmages) we had, we could have a five-win season and if we put things together it could be a six win season."

But season-opening nemisis Brockway is first on the list. The Rovers have lost to the Rovers to start the last two seasons by a combined score of 93-25, including a 43-0 walloping last year.

This will be the third year we’ve led off with Brockway and it’s a difficult task," Park said. "We’re not as far along because we don’t practice together all summer. Our goal is to go down there and give them a game. We want to avoid the situations we were in last year."