By Bill Doyle, Telegram & Gazette Staff

WORCESTER —  The Worcester State football team has a lot of familiar faces this season, and they’re all smiling.

The Lancers return 10 of 11 starters on offense and nine of 11 on defense, the most in Brien Cullen’s 29 seasons as head coach. Many of them have started for two or three years. Cullen also rates this as his deepest team. It’s so deep that Cullen said backups on this team could have started for some of his other teams. A total of 97 players tried out, the most under Cullen.

“They’re quality kids, especially the skill kids,” Cullen said.

After going 1-9 two years ago and 5-5 last season, the Lancers have their sights set much higher this fall. Winning their first New England Football Conference title since 1997 isn’t out of the question.

“The expectations are very high,” Cullen said.

“We’d be disappointed if we didn’t compete for the title,” running backs coach John Smith said.

Cullen admitted it’s been awhile since he’s been this excited about his team.

“It revitalizes you,” Cullen said. “We go into years sometimes where we’re really young and we’re rebuilding. But this is a team that’s been two years in the making, going from 1-9 to 5-5. These guys have stuck around and been through it and worked hard in the offseason. Now it’s payoff time. Now it’s time to go for it.”

Senior running back Marcus Price, a Doherty High graduate who ran for 1,056 yards last season, and senior receiver Kenny Russell, who caught 53 passes for 691 yards and eight scores, are among the six returning Lancers who earned All-NEFC honors last season.

Senior Tony Tokarz, a Wachusett Regional graduate, returns for his third season at quarterback running WSU’s pistol offense. Tokarz ranks fourth in school history in passing yardage (2,812 yards) and needs to rush for 214 to reach 1,000 for his career.

“His passing has gotten better each year,” Cullen said. “He’s making fewer mistakes.”

The offensive line returns intact with seniors R.J. Diepietri of Worcester, Bobby Johnson of Leicester, D.J. Martin of Mendon and Adam Peloquin of Spencer, and junior Jeremy Tebo of Leicester.

Johnson, another All-NEFC selection, anchored a line that helped the Lancers rank fourth in the 16-team conference in total offense with 337.6 yards per game. Left tackle Kyle Morris, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound sophomore, is ready to fill in after gaining 40 pounds in the offseason.

Cullen is high on the players who will replace the three starters who graduated. Casey Hippert, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound senior who starred at Northbridge High, transferred from Division 1 FCS (formerly 1-AA) Sacred Heart and will start at tight end. Curtis Hickson, a former Doherty star, transferred from Quinsigamond Community College and will start at linebacker in place of NEFC Bogan Division Co-Defensive Player of the Year Tyler Russell. Andy Tokarz, Tony’s brother and a starter two years ago, returns to start at safety. He tore his ACL in the first game last season and missed the remainder of the season.

Senior linebacker Cameron Jones of Stow is back after leading the squad with 13.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He also had five interceptions and six pass breakups.

Junior defensive back Graham Asum of Marlboro, an All-NEFC selection who led the squad with six interceptions and five pass breakups, will key the secondary.

Worcester St. at a glance
Coach: Brien Cullen (29th season, 142-113).

League: New England Football Conference, Bogan Division.

2010 record: 5-5, 3-4 conference.

Top returnees: Sr. QB Tony Tokarz (Wachusett) (1,594 passing yards, 14 TDs, 12 INTs; 98-372 rushing, 5 TDs), Sr. RB Marcus Price (Doherty) (second team All-NEFC Bogan Division, first team All-Worcester Area, 204-1,056 rushing, Sr. WR Kenny Russell (first team All-NEFC Bogan Division, first team All-Worcester Area, 53 receptions for 691 yards, 8 TDs, led team in scoring), Sr. DL Joe Sweet, (first team All-NEFC Bogan Division, second team All-Worcester Area, 70 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries), Sr. LB Cameron Jones (Nashoba) (53 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 5 INT, 6 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles), Jr. CB Graham Asum (Marlboro) (first team All-NEFC Bogan Division, first team All-Worcester Area, 39 tackles, 6 INTs, 6 pass breakups; 554 kick return yards, 2 TDs).

Key losses: TE David Harris (Milford) (7 receptions, 77 yards, 1 TD, first team NEFC Bogan Division), LB Tyler Russell (Wachusett) (led NCAA Division 3 with 92 solo tackles, 167 tackles in all, 12.5 TFL, Co-NEFC Bogan Division Defensive/Worcester Area Player of the Year; D3football.com All-Northeast, ECAC All-Star), SS Paul Lewis (South High) (58 tackles, 2 INTs), CB Yosief Wolday (33 tackles, 7 pass breakups).

Notable newcomers: So. WR Dana Barry (Hudson), transfer from Norwich; Jr. TE Casey Hippert (Northbridge High), transfer from Sacred Heart; So. LB P.J. Robinson, transfer from Dean; Jr. CB Josh Key (Putnam), transfer from Merrimack.

Schedule:

Sept. 3…at Anna Maria, 5 p.m.

Sept. 9…WPI, 7 p.m.

Sept. 15…Nichols, 7 p.m.

Sept. 24…at Westfield State, 1 p.m.

Oct. 1…Maine Maritime, noon

Oct. 8…at Mass Maritime, noon

Oct. 15…Bridgewater State, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 22…at Coast Guard, noon

Oct. 29…at Fitchburg State, 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 5…Framingham State, noon