The Alpena football team has been picked to finish sixth in the Big North Conference for the 2016 season in the conference’s annual media poll.

Alpena finished with five points in the poll, which is conducted by the Northern Michigan outlets who cover the conference’s six schools.

Traverse City Central, last year’s conference champion, was the unanimous pick to win the Big North title again and was awarded 30 points. Petoskey was awarded 23 points, followed by Traverse City West (21), Gaylord (14), Cadillac (11) and the Wildcats.

Points were awarded on a scale which awarded six points for first place, five points for second place and so on. The participating outlets were The Alpena News, Cadillac News, Petoskey News-Review, Traverse City Record-Eagle and Gaylord Herald-Times.

With 13 of 22 starters back, the Trojans seemed primed for another conference title run. Central was dealt a loss by the departure of running back/linebacker John Pupel, but the Trojans still return a good deal of talent and will look to put together a solid encore to the 2015 season where they made the playoffs and averaged 35.5 points a game on offense.

Those returning include left and right tackles Ben Sherwin and Sam Sherwin, center Brendan Arnold and wide receivers Devante Walker and Terrell Solberg. Newcomers include quarterback Tobin Schwannecke, who replaces the graduated Reagan Cotton.

The Northmen enter the season with a new stadium, but plenty of question marks after losing a great deal of talent from a team that went 8-3 and averaged 31.7 points on offense while allowing just 12.5.

With a veteran coaching staff and an influx of younger talented players, the Northmen could once again finish in the conference’s upper tier. Among the newcomers is Joe Wilson, who at 6-3, 205 pounds, will step in at quarterback.

Justin Wilson, Jaylin Mitchell and Joey Hickman are among those who could see time in the backfield and have plenty of speed and talent to make up for the losses of players like Brent Murray and Evan Whitmore.

West had high expectations last season, but stumbled out of the gate against tough opponents and finished 4-5. The Titans might find themselves in rebuilding mode this season after losing 30 seniors and returning just eight starters.

Senior quarterback Carson Rosa will be counted on to lead West’s offense, but the Titans lack experience at wideout and could lean on its ground game a little more this year, especially with some talent returning on the offensive line.

The Blue Devils went 6-3 in 2015 and advanced to the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. But a number of players from that talented squad have graduated, leaving Gaylord with some question marks this year.

The running game will be one of Gaylord’s strengths this season with speedy senior Nate Boswood returning along with Davis Eyth and Jesse Caverson.

Cadillac was one of two conference opponents Alpena defeated last season, but the Vikings are looking to improve in coach Cody Mallory’s second season at the helm.

Mallory has tailored his offense to the strength of his players and with a triple option attack, the Vikings could be a team to watch out for. Cadillac’s backfield includes Connor Flint, Kaden Dennis and Kegan Brooks, the younger brother of former Cadillac standout quarterback Jalen Brooks.

Flint and Clayton McCarthy will run Cadillac’s 4-2 defense.

A new season brings more change for the Wildcats and new coach Aaron Sims has already instilled the importance of doing all the little things correctly in his players.

Sims isn’t making any bold predictions in his inaugural season on Alpena’s sideline, but the Wildcats could be a surprise team if things go well. \Junior quarterback Lars MacArthur returns and he’ll have no shortage of options in the backfield as Alpena plans to spread the wealth in the running game.

At receiver, Alex Arch is a key returner for Alpena and Trevor Roznowski and Barrett Jones will provide some other options at tight end.

James Andersen can be reached via email at sports@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5694. Follow James on Twitter @ja_alpenanews.