ISLE OF WIGHT—Isle of Wight Academy brings experience to the field this season as it looks to build on last year’s 5-4 season.

The Chargers have 12 seniors and lost three players to graduation.

That experience extends to the offensive and defensive lines as seniors Frank Ricks, Alex Peffley and Cody Barnes all return, said Head Coach Dale Chapman.

Many seniors have experience under their belts.

“Last year the juniors basically carried the team,” Chapman said. “They took their lumps and learned their positions. It’s always better to have kids who’ve been there and done that.”

Other returning standouts include senior wide receiver Josh Thomas and tight end/defensive end Michael McGuire.

On offense, the Chargers will try to confuse opposing defenses with different looks and try to spread them out, which is a departure for the Chargers’ run-first tradition.

IWA was also named to a larger division, meaning the Chargers schedule will be tougher, making every Virginia Commonwealth Conference game more important.

“It’s crucial that we win every conference game we play,” Chapman said. “We’ve got some work ahead of us.”

The Chargers open the season by hosting Catholic on Saturday, Aug. 27, which Chapman said will be a good way to gauge his squad.

“It’s a good barometer of what kind of team we have,” he said.