Attempting to perpetuate its status as one of the Pacific League’s elite football teams, Raymond features a solid nucleus of talent surrounded by largely untested underclassmen.

That makes the Seagulls something of an unknown quantity entering the 2016 campaign. So unknown that head coach Luke Abbott has difficulty assessing his team’s prospects.

“We could be .500, we could be better than that,” said Abbott, entering his third season at the helm. “We are young, but they are picking up things pretty quickly and I’m happy with our progression.”

The Gulls earned three consecutive state 2B playoff berths from 2012-14, including a state semifinal appearance in 2013. Last year, they posted a 7-1 regular-season season record in placing second in the Pacific League before falling to Morton/White Pass in a district crossover game.

Abbott may be comforted by the knowledge that most of the other Pacific League contenders are in the same boat as his club. Like the Gulls, defending league champion North Beach and state semifinalist Pe Ell/Willapa Valley (new to the Pacific circuit this year) sustained heavy graduation losses.

The Gulls do return their starting quarterback in senior Kason Koski and one of the league’s top running backs in senior Jace Duckworth. Although the since-graduated Elliott Murdock was the team’s leading rusher last season, Duckworth ran for 173 yards in the district loss to MWP.

Senior Luke Hamilton, an all-league linebacker and second-team all-league offensive lineman, leads the returning talent up front. Sophomore Cesar Delgado is another returning starter in the line.

Patrick Edwards, who started as a freshman last season, will team with Duckworth and either sophomore Reese Garcia or freshman McCartney Maden in the backfield.

Since Koski also has fine speed, the Gulls figure to stick to their traditional run-oriented offense.

“If you can’t run the ball, you’re not going to win football games,” Abbott asserted.

Aside from Hamilton, Raymond’s line will be composed entirely of underclassmen. They include Delgado, juniors Taevon Hubbard and John Kronjaeger and sophomores Christian Anderson and Adan Vasquez.

Junior Marcus Anderson is the probable starter at wide receiver, while sophomore Jack Jordan and junior Brandt Rockwell are in a close competition at tight end.

Raymond’s defensive unit is still somewhat unsettled. Hamilton and Koski (the latter an all-league defensive back last year) will be two of the key operatives.

Delgado, Christian Anderson and Rockwell up front, Hubbard at linebacker, Edwards at either linebacker or defensive back and Duckworth, Marcus Anderson, Jordan, Garcia and Maden in the secondary are also in the mix.

“I see our youth as a weakness. I see our depth as a weakness,” Abbott acknowledged. “But having a senior quarterback back, having two running backs with some speed…and a senior leader type on the line is a help. I’m optimistic about our potential growth in the next few weeks.”

That growth, as Abbott wryly noted, will be severely tested in the season opener. The Gulls will visit Napavine, last year’s state runner-up, in a Saturday afternoon affair on Sept. 3.

Abbott expects the Pacific League to be far more balanced than in recent years. He ranks Ilwaco, Pe Ell/Willapa Valley and North Beach as the top contenders, with South Bend a potential darkhorse.

Raymond’s coaching staff returns intact, with Mike Tully, Tim Newbill, Rod Bannish and Scott Londino back as assistants.