By MIKE McLAIN

sports@vindy.com

WARREN

The Warren Harding Raiders were literally a fingertip or two away from what might have been a memorable 2015 season.

Posting a 7-3 record in the regular season and advancing to the second round of the Division II Region 3 playoffs normally would be considered memorable. Unfortunately, for the Raiders, there are still thoughts of what might have been had they not lost to Mayfield, 23-21, on a last-second field goal in a second-round game in Solon.

The ball was tipped by Ju’Wantae Harbin, but he didn’t get enough of his hand on it to prevent it from sailing above the crossbar.

“You have to move on, but you don’t forget,” Raiders coach Steve Arnold said. “Our goal is set to advance further than we did a year ago.”

Among the significant losses was running back Keemari Murry, who twice exceeded 1,000 rushing yards. The good news is that senior quarterback Lynn Bowden returns. The 6-1, 175-pound Bowden is a four-star athlete and the target of numerous BCS universities as a receiver.

“He’s more comfortable now than he was last year,” Arnold said of Bowden, who didn’t arrive on campus until the summer of 2015 after transferring from Liberty. “There’s a feeling out process on both sides. The good thing about it is that he has weapons around him.”

OFFENSE

Bowden was unstoppable at times last season, rushing for 1,927 yards and 20 touchdowns on 178 carries in 12 games. He passed for 742 yards and nine touchdowns and returned three kicks for scores.

Senior Isaiah Wells saw action behind Murry last season and is set to step into a lead role. Senior Robert Butler, a transfer from Georgia, is expected to have an impact. Sophomore Kayron Adams will also receive time.

Several receivers benefitted from varsity experience in 2015 — senior Marlin Richardson, senior Tavon Hooks, senior Dakota Shelton, junior Jalen Hooks and senior Juvar King.

The line was decimated by graduation, including the losses of Devin Stear, Kaleb Jones, Myron Cunningham and Darryl Rodgers. The line will be built around returning starters Dan Angelo, a junior center, and senior guard-tackle Taj Harper. Possible starters are senior Johnathan Moorhead, junior Jowan Poole and junior Michael Kuntz.

Seniors Collin King and Eli Watson are the fullbacks. Seniors Tre Murry and Elijah Burch are the tight ends.

DEFENSE

Arnold will go with a 4-2-5 look, anchored up front by third-year starter Harbin, a senior end. Others that will play on the line are junior Marcquise Allgood, senior Mehki Engram, Poole and Harper.

Seniors Thad McCollough and Naz Battee-Diggs are the linebackers. Jalen Hooks and King will be the cornerbacks. Richardson is the free safety and Tavon Hooks will be the strong safety. Butler and Murry will share time as the hybrid safety.

SPECIALS TEAMS

Bowden is the punter, with senior Dominic VanWinkle handling the kicking chores. Bowden, Richardson and King are the returners. Junior Michael Limperos and Butler can handle long snaps.

OUTLOOK

The meat of the schedule includes back-to-back road games against Austintown Fitch and Massillon Washington in Weeks 4 and 5.

“We think we have the talent, ability and the mentality to go further than we did last year,” Arnold said. “We believe the talent is there, but we have to focus on the little things.”