The ramifications of the fumble-interception variety are obvious. But perhaps more damaging, long-term, is the type that happens when high school players report to camp and see a different face standing in the center of the huddle every August.

That has been the troubling case at Gray-New Gloucester ever since the school elevated its gridiron program from a developmental league to varsity status in 2005.

Hank Girardin, Chris Nelson, Shawn Austin, Phil Prideaux and Jim Hersom all have taken turns at the wheel. This summer, Mark Renna became the sixth leader to blow the whistle in 10 seasons. None of the predecessors stayed more than two.

“They haven’t enjoyed a lot of success,” Renna said. “I hope to be competitive. The kids got beat badly last year by a few of the teams, so hopefully we can turn it around a little bit.”

Renna most recently was defensive coordinator and line coach at Portland for two seasons. He also made stops as an assistant at alma mater Cheverus, Scarborough and Westbrook.

Patriots’ preseason has been as much about changing expectations and attitudes as tweaking offense and defense.

Class C West Gray-New Gloucester played well in its controlled scrimmage against Gorham, matching the Rams’ two touchdowns. Things got started in an all-too-familiar fashion, however.

“Gorham’s first drive they came right down and scored, and you could see some of the kids’ reaction like, ‘Here we go again.’ We had to keep saying, ‘It’s going to be fine, no big deal,’” Renna said.

Renna was a lineman in high school and college, so it’s hardly a surprise that he has asked the Patriots to embrace the Wing-T.

Veteran players had a passing familiarity with the offense after their two years under Hersom, who resigned to take the job at Class D Dirigo.

“He ran some of it here, but I think he more dabbled with it,” Renna said. “We’re going to stick to it.”

On the defensive side of the ball, Renna will keep things basic with a 5-2.

“Just trying to improve our tackling,” he said. “The kids are working hard trying to learn a new system from a whole new coaching staff. We’re doing a lot of harping on fundamentals and my way of doing things.”

There has been a strong youth program in place for more than a decade. Past Gray-New Gloucester teams have competed for elementary and middle school championships.

Recent coaches had trouble keeping those kids engaged in the sport when they reached high school, though. Hersom spoke of combing the hallways after school, trying to drum up interest.

Those trends remain an issue, for now. Gray-New Gloucester has 27 players in camp, likely one of the lowest totals in the state.

“Numbers are down everywhere. I don’t know what’s going on with kids. It’s easier to go shoot hoops all day and not have to deal with football practice. Or you can play baseball year-round with Mike D’Andrea,” Renna said. “I coached at Portland High School and we had six kids that played three sports. Six. And that was in two years.”

There isn’t an overwhelming number of seniors, but Renna has quarterback Carson Hodsdon, fullback Adam Dumas and center Nate Hennemann with four years’ experience up the middle.

“This is the first class that started all the way back in peewee, and you can see that in the seniors,” Renna said. “They have a good youth program.”

Although Gray-New Gloucester went winless in 2013 and is 2-41 since 2009, the Patriots threatened in games with the lower half of the Campbell Conference a year ago. There were close losses to Freeport, a playoff team, and Lake Region.

“I’d like to think to think we’ll competitive with that low middle group. Obviously Leavitt, Spruce Mountain, Cape Elizabeth and Wells are very good,” Renna said. “We have Yarmouth and Freeport before Leavitt comes to our place. That’s a good start to our schedule, because obviously that team in green is going to be a huge challenge for us at this point.”

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