Woodland’s Tyler Bulinski, shown vs. Ansonia last year, begins his third year as starting QB (John Vanacore/For Hearst Connecticut Media)

[Vitals]

• COACH —  CHRIS MOFFO (4th year, 15-16)

• CONFERENCE — NVL Copper

• PLAYOFF CLASS —  Class S (360 boys enrollment)

• HOME — Woodland HS Field

• 2018 RECORD — 9-2, lost to Bloomfield in Class S quarterfinals.

• 2019 OPENER — Sept. 13 vs. Torrington, 6:30 p.m.

• TEAM WEBSITE — Maxpreps | TWITTER — @WRHSHawkfb

[Top Players]

• TYLER BULINSKI, Sr. QB (6-1, 190)

• ALEK TOLBOE, Sr. OL/DL (6-1, 240)

• RYAN KNOBEL, Sr. OL/DL (6-2, 205)

• JAMES CHAMPAGNE, Sr. WR/DB (6-0, 165)

• BRETT BARRETT, Jr. LB (5-9, 190)

• NICK ROUSSEAU, Jr. RB/DB (5-9, 160)

• MIKE BUNCE, Jr. TE/LB (6-0, 180)

• JOE DeDOMENICO, Jr. WR/DB (5-10, 170)

• JUSTIN PETTA, Sr. OL/DL (5-9, 240)

• JASON PALMIERI, Soph. RB/DB (5-9, 170)

[Key Losses]

RB/DB Edit Krivca, TE/LB Carter Amore, OL/DE Joe Shea, OL/DL Josh Hassan, WR Mike Farina, TE/LB Jason Hicks

[Outlook]

After a couple of building years for the Hawks, they reached the playoffs in 2018 for the first time in five years, earning three shutout wins. The reward was a visit to a Bloomfield team that rolled to a Class S championship.

The Warhawks topped Woodland in that one. A few standouts have departed, like Edit Krivca, who ran for over 1,500 yards and 21 touchdowns and was named all-state as a defensive back, as well as Josh Hassan, an all-state lineman.

Do they have enough to do it again? They’ve still got some rival coaches’ attention, at least.

That starts behind center, where Tyler Bulinski begins his third year as a starter. He threw for 1,000 yards as a junior.

Woodland’s Jason Palmieri looks to elude a tackler vs. Ansonia last year. (John Vanacore/For Hearst Connecticut Media)

“He has developed and improved greatly each year,” coach Chris Moffo said. “He is a great leader and hard worker.”

If some key offensive factors have departed, the Hawks have some talent and veterans back in key roles. Palmieri got lots of touches as a freshman, both on the ground and in the passing game. There’s youth up front, though.

Woodland hosts Torrington to open the season Sept. 13, then visits Wilby six nights later. The Hawks opened last season with shutout wins against both teams by a combined 84-0.

As usual, the slate ends with Seymour the night before Thanksgiving, this year at Seymour. Woodland beat the Wildcats last year for the first time since 2014.

[2019 Schedule]

• Sept. 13 — TORRINGTON,* 6:30 p.m.

• Sept. 19 — at Wilby,* 6:30 p.m.

• Sept. 27 — at Derby,** 7 p.m.

• Oct. 4 — at Wolcott,* 6 p.m.

• Oct. 11 — ST. PAUL,* 6:30 p.m.

• Oct. 25 — SACRED HEART/KAYNOR TECH,* 6:30 p.m.

• Nov. 1 — CROSBY,* 6:30 p.m.

• Nov. 8 — at Ansonia,** 6 p.m.

• Nov. 15 — OXFORD,** 6:30 p.m.

• Nov. 27 — at Seymour,** 6 p.m.

Home games in CAPS
*Conference game
**Division game