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The handful of veterans on Sherwood's football roster might have expected a sea change in 2009. Gone are the head coach and 30 seniors who led them to an undefeated state championship season a year ago.

If change is what they were expecting, they were wrong.

"Practice has not changed one bit," senior defensive end Greg Grant said. "Everything is exactly the same. Coach [Al] Thomas comes by from time to time just to check up on the team."

Thomas retired in January at age 69 after his record-tying eighth Maryland state championship. In stepped 31-year-old Pat Cilento, a Thomas assistant for just two years.

Cilento becomes the third man to follow Thomas' act. The previous two, Terry Changuris at Seneca Valley in 1988 and Todd Tunnell at Damascus in 1994, both went on to win state championships within a few seasons.

Cilento seems unfazed, thanks in large part to those around him.

"Al's one of the best, if not the best, coaches in the state," he said. "The good thing is, we kept the staff intact. You're not teaching a lot of coaches. They know what's going on."

Whether that can also be said of the players remains to be seen. Cilento is tight-lipped on that point, except to say that the team is "young. Very young."

That much is true. The team returns four senior linemen — Grant on defense and three 2008 offensive starters: Josh Hertz, Oliver Pettenati and Neil Kress. Inside linebacker Phil Durity, punter Patrick Garland and first-team All-Gazette place kicker Andy Estrain are also senior returning starters.

Behind them come a whole lot of juniors, especially at the skill positions. Jamal Merritt played extensively on varsity a year ago and will be a fixture at wideout and defensive back. Dylan Hubbard and Cyrus Britt will compete for carries with senior Kye Hopkins.

At quarterback, Cilento declined to announce a starter midway through the second week of preseason, saying "we want to settle on one, but nobody's emerged as that much better." Two more juniors, Georgia transfer Alex Cole and returnee A.J. Pignone, were competing with Garland for the job.

Two factors mitigate all that inexperience and keep Sherwood among the teams to watch in Class 4A this season. One, the all-important front line may be the most talented since Thomas' staff took over five seasons ago. And two, that staff has dealt with player turnover before.

Grant puts it this way:

"Every team has weaknesses. We have weaknesses; we're trying to iron those out. Other than those weaknesses, we're looking pretty good right now."

Some outside the program disagree. The Maryland State Media Poll, in which The Gazette votes, ranks the Warriors 22nd in the state. That's not a lot of respect for a program that has been to three state finals in four years.

But all that success comes with a healthy dose of perspective, too.

"Outside opinions are not really relevant," Grant said. "We're going to be the only ones who can control our destiny. So it doesn't take outside pressure to affect us. When people say we have a lot gone, it really doesn't matter."

Sherwood

Head coach: Pat Cilento, 1st year

League: Montgomery 4A East

Last year's record: 14-0, Class 4A state champions

Last playoff appearance: 2008 (14th)

Last state title: 2008 (3rd)

Players to watch: WR/DB Jamal Merritt; LB/FB Phil Durity; K Andy Estrain

2008 results

Sept. 5 — Magruder (W), 42-6

Sept. 12 — Paint Branch (W), 35-0

Sept. 19 — Blake (W), 56-0

Sept. 26 — Northwest (W), 21-14

Oct. 3 — Springbrook (W), 35-27

Oct. 10 — Blair (W), 35-7

Oct. 17 — Quince Orchard (W), 14-6

Oct. 25 — Richard Montgomery (W), 61-0

Oct. 31 — Gaithersburg (W), 41-0

Nov. 7 — Whitman (W), 45-7

Nov. 14 — Northwest (W), 38-3*

Nov. 21 — Quince Orchard (W), 31-10*

Nov. 28 — Wise (W), 45-8*

Dec. 5 — Linganore (W), 21-3*

*playoff game

2009 schedule

Sept. 4 — Wootton, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 11 — at Richard Montgomery, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 17 — at Paint Branch, 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 — Magruder, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 2 — Gaithersburg, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 9 — at Blair, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 16 — Damascus, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 23 — Churchill, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 30 — at Springbrook, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 6 — at Quince Orchard, 6:30 p.m.