“We just seem to be bigger and tougher and doing more things right,” Millican said. “I think we’ll be tougher and more powerful. We had an excellent first week of practice. Our first day in pads was probably the most productive I’ve seen in a while.”

The Ridgerunners are bringing back eight starters on the offensive side of the ball, led by senior quarterback Jake Spychalski. After completing 53 percent of his passes for over 1,500 and accounting for 14 touchdowns last year, Spychalski will return for his second season as the starting quarterback.

“Jake Spychalski is going to be one of the better quarterbacks we’ve had at Grove,” Millican said. “The only thing that’s going to hold him back is him, but I have confidence that’s not going to happen.”

Spychalski will have a number of experienced targets to throw the ball to, including leading receivers Ty Phillips and Matt Jeffries, as well as Austin Cross and Spencer Londagin.

“I’ve been very pleased with our wide receivers,” Millican said. “We have competition and depth at those positions. But those are going to be the same ones that play on defense so it’s good because, while they’ll go both ways, it’ll be part-time both ways.”

The 6-2, 160-pound Jeffries caught 30 passes for 482 yards, while Phillips led the team with 46 receptions for 493 yards last season. The 5-10, 210-pound senior will also see significant in the backfield.

“We’ll call him slash,” Millican said of Phillips. “He’s that type of player we’re going to have to move around and find different ways to get him the ball. He’s worked hard this summer and is a good all-around athlete.”

But the Ridgerunners will also look to put a renewed emphasis on the running game. In addition to Phillips, Grove will use a group of running backs that includes Garrett Sisco, Cole Sharp, Scottie Spicer and Kansas transfer Connor Dicky.

“We’re going to focus on running the ball more this year,” Millican said. “But we may have to do what we have to do. We’ll have to find ways to get our best players the ball.”

Defensively, the Ridgerunners will count on nine returning starters to lead to an improvement on that side of the ball, especially when it comes to stopping the run. A deep group of linebackers will include the 6-2, 230-pound Dicky, as well as returning starters Dylan Johnson, Drew Hardy and Sisco.

The secondary will be led by Cross, who led the team with 113 tackles and 11 passes defended in 2012, as well as Londagin.

“We have competition from outside linebacker to inside linebacker,” Millican said. “But again, those are the same guys that are going to be playing on offense so we’re going to need them all.”

The Ridgerunners will open the season at home on Sept. 6 against Miami before travelling to Jay and Wagoner to finish out non-district play. Grove will open district play at home against Tahlequah on Sept. 27.