Tom Babaian isn’t looking for his team to replicate what it accomplished last season, but he does hope it ends with his football team holding a championship plaque for a second consecutive year.

Babaian’s Pelham Pythons completed their undefeated 2007 campaign with a state title, and the team returns some of the main cogs from last year.

“Obviously you try to duplicate what you did last year. You don’t settle for anything less,” said the head coach. “We’re looking to be just as good, if not better. That doesn’t mean that’ll happen, but that’s what you strive for.”

One returning player to this year’s team is Bruce Vieira, who proved to be one of the best backs in the state last season. Babaian said Vieira has been successful on the field due to his preparation off it.

“He’s without a doubt one of the top players in the entire state, if not in New England. He’s an outstanding player, outstanding kid,” said Babaian. “He does it all on his own. He’ll push himself, and that’s the difference between him and everybody else. He just does it, and that’s rare for a high school kid. You can’t teach that.”

Leading the offense will be Josh Luciano, who Babaian said brings a combination of leadership and athleticism to the quarterback position.

“He has a lot of that (athleticism), but he just needs to learn to use it,” said Babaian. “I think he’ll have a big year.”

With the success of Vieira last year, defenses will look to slow the senior, making Tim Schaffer vital to the Pelham backfield.

“If they key on Bruce, then (Schaffer) could have a big year. That’s huge because you can’t have an average guy be the opposite of a Bruce,” said Babaian. “You need somebody who can pound the ball and take it the distance. It makes a big difference (in) play calling.”

Babaian said he expects junior linebacker Connor McColgan and senior nose tackle Bill Helliwell to anchor the defense for Pelham, which faces new Division-V opponents thanks to an expansion and reshuffling of divisions.

“It’ll be much more competitive … It makes it a lot more difficult. You’re adding in some good quality teams,” he said. “We’re not going to have the teams that roll over like we had last year. There were times we walked on the field and it was over.”

Although Babaian is excited for the season to begin, he knows his team still needs to improve before its regular-season opener on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Campbell.

“Honestly, we have a lot of work before our first game. We’re nowhere near game ready yet,” he said. “It’s getting the kids prepared for what’s coming at them and the speed it’s coming at them.”