Sam Mahar symbolizes, in many ways, the ethos of the Baldwinsville football team, from its willingness to embrace traditions, rather than run from them, to the work ethic that has made it one of the most consistent programs in Central New York.

Already well-established as a player on both sides of the ball with the Bees, Mahar enters the 2015 season thrust into a larger role at tailback after the graduation of Cameron Skipworth, a two-time All-Central New York selection.

Mahar wore jersey number 2 as a junior. But now, in his senior season, he’s donning number 22 – which Skipworth wore as he piled up big numbers in the running game and dominated in the secondary, too, joining Cole Burchill as the heart and soul of a tremendous Bees’ defense in 2014.

Proving that he’s honest, Mahar said that he “has some pretty big shoes to fill”, but he’s taking on the challenge, as are his B’ville teammates.

Good as the 2014 season was, the Bees’ hard-fought 7-0 defeat to neighbor Liverpool in the Section III Class AA semifinal stung plenty, and everyone back this season is bent on taking that next step and reaching the sectional final.

No doubt, scrimmaging against Liverpool last Saturday only increased the motivation for this fall’s slate, which starts Thursday at the Carrier Dome against Victor (Section V) in the Kickoff Classic.

While the emphasis at B’ville remains on power football, it’s not as pronounced as before. According to head coach Carl Sanfilippo, they still lifted in the off-season, but only two times per week, with the rest of the week devoted to speed and efficiency drills.

Perhaps as a coincidence, the starting offensive line, which lost another All-Central New York selection, Marcel Penfield, to graduation, has no starter bigger than 270 pounds, and Dan Bridge gained 30 pounds from last year just to reach that mark.

As Sanfilippo put it, “being 300 pounds is good for one series”, meaning that size only works for so long and that it’s more important to be in shape, especially when going both ways on offense and defense, as many linemen will.

Still, Bridge and Mike Spicer return at guard, flanking center Anthony Emmi on an experienced interior line. Cameron Majchrzak is drawing plenty of raves as he and Josh Greer take over at tackle.

Another change for the Bees is not trying to give too much work to one tailback, as it did with Skipworth and, before that, Tyler Rouse and Malik Burks.

The hope is to have Mahar, Ryan Ingerson and Jack Buis share those carries, and with Burchill gone, the same sharing takes place at fullback, where Jusin LaRock, Thor Sutphen and Trey Anthony lead a strong group.

B’ville still doesn’t know who will start at quarterback. During the scrimmage, returning senior Madison Wolfanger, sophomore Ben Dwyer and junior Dominic Samoraj all saw action, and whoever doesn’t go under center will be active on defense, anyway. Several kickers, including one-time soccer player Mark McCabe, are looking to replace Tom Scarfino.

For Bees defensive coordinator Bill Spicer, the forecast is mixed. Returning six starters is nice, but replacing the two cornerstones of a unit that, in 2014, was one of the best in Central New York won’t be easy.

When they were on the field, Burchill, at linebacker, helped B’ville take away an opponent’s running game. Then, when teams passed, Skipworth piled up interceptions and shut down that aspect of the game.

It’s tasked to LaRock to replace Burchill at linebacker, flanked by Sutphen, Majchrzak and John Petrelli, while the competition for Skipworth’s free safety spot remains open next to Buis at strong safety.

Mahar and Ingerson return at cornerback, though, and on the front line B’ville has a terrific pair of ends in Greer and senior Mark Lannier, plus depth at the tackle spots with Bridge, Noah Ricks, Mike Spicer and Ryan Fowler seeing action.

After facing Victor in the Dome, Bees will need to navigate through a schedule that includes just three home games, one against defending sectional champion Henninger on Oct. 9, along with trips to Auburn, Fayetteville-Manlius and Cicero-North Syracuse.