Predicted order of finish

North Division

■ Cambridge-salem (7-0, 5-0): The Indians secured the program’s 17th sectional championship since 1992 with a 41-27 title triumph over Chatham. Several vital elements from that squad graduated and veteran coach Doug Luke is having a difficult time gauging what his largely new roster will accomplish this fall. Considering how well the program has done against Section II competition, the Indians still rate as the team to beat.

■ Hoosick Falls (5-2, 3-2): The Panthers are young and will start multiple sophomores under the tutelage of veteran mentor Ron Jones. The roster has just 22 players, so avoiding injuries will be crucial this season. How well the offensive and defensive lines fare will influence just how well the 2019 campaign goes for the Panthers.

■ Greenwich (5-2, 3-2): Opening up against rival Cambridge-salem certainly will have the Witches’ attention this week. The 2018 season proved to be a disappointment for a young squad. Many in this classification point to this season’s Greenwich roster as a squad that could surprise.

■ Lake George/hadleyLuzerne (3-4, 3-2): The Wareagles play their first two games of the season in the division with road contests at Granville and Cambridgesalem and then host Chatham and Stillwater, so September should provide answers to how well this season will go.

■ Granville (2-4, 1-4): How well the Golden Horde will or will not fare in the division hinges largely upon their first two games, a home contest against Lake George-hadley Luzerne Saturday and a Week 2 road game at Greenwich.

■ Hoosic Valley (0-7, 0-5): The Indians, a program that reached the 2018 Section II Class D final, shifts back to the Class C ranks this fall and must attempt to contend in a division stacked with much more established programs. Central Division

■ Stillwater (7-0, 4-0): The Warriors have been contenders and yet unable to break through with a sectional title. This season’s squad features 13 returning starters, including six on offense led by quarterback James Galarneau and running back Mason Seymour. All four division games are at home this season with Stillwater opening on the road at South Division power Voorheesville.

■ Fonda (6-1, 3-1): The Braves return 15 starters (seven on offense, eight on defense) from a squad that finished 4-4 overall in 2018. The team opens up against Tamarac and finishes divisional play at Stillwater in Week 7 — a contest that could decide the title.

■ Tamarac (4-2, 2-2): The 2018 squad finished 5-4 overall, including a win over Voorheesville. The Bengals will know where they stand this season based on their first two games in divisional showdowns at Fonda (Week 1) and Stillwater (Week 2)

■ Mechanicville (3-4, 1-3): The 2018 season proved difficult for the Red Raiders. How quickly a young team matures this season will determine where the team will finish in the division as the final three games of the regular season are road games at Greenwich, Stillwater and Tamarac.

■ Canajoharie-fort Plain (16, 0-4): Talk about stern starts to a schedule, how about road tilts at Mechanicville, Fonda and Stillwater to open the 2019 season? Things do not get any easier as the team’s first home game in Week 4 falls against Chatham — a 2018 Class C finalist now competing in Class D. South Division

■ Voorheesville (5-1, 4-0): There are ample reasons to be optimistic regarding the Blackbirds’ 2019 title hopes in the division and the overall classification. Eight starters return on offense and seven on defense, plus Gavin Esposito (a two-way starter lost in Week 1 last year) comes back and takes over at quarterback.

■ Watervliet (4-2, 3-1): The Cannoneers have 46 players on the roster and have added veteran coach Pete Porcelli to run the program. Getting back a healthy Kareem Duncan at running back is a huge boost. The rivalry with Voorheesville is always intense and this season could determine which team will be division champion.

■ Cairo-durham/catskill (24, 2-2): As a first-year merger in 2018, Cairo-durham/ Catskill finished 3-6 overall and opened some eyes to what could be a strong fusion going forward. This season’s squad features 24 players (10 returning). The offensive line is comprised of two seniors and three sophomores. Coach Dan Hatch believes his squad could surprise.

■ Taconic Hills (2-5, 1-3): The only win for the Titans in 2018 came in Week 6 with a 22-12 victory over Coxsackieathens — this season’s opening-game opponent on the road. Coach Mark Anderson brings back 11 starters (six on defense). The team has a bye in Week 2 and then plays two more road games before hosting its first home game in Week 5 vs. Canajoharie-fort Plain.

■ Coxsackie-athens (0-6, 0-4): The Indians finished 1-8 overall last fall as they were outscored 296-126. The offense must improve to achieve better results.