By ERIC BENEVIDES

Sports writer

PAWTUCKET --- The youth movement may be on at Shea High, but you won't find head coach Dino Campopiano waving any white flags.
Only a handful of full-time varsity players were among the 65 players that attended the first workout of the Raiders' training camp on Monday afternoon at Max Read Field, and while most of the other players are entering their sophomore and junior years, there is some quality talent in those groups that Campopiano will keep an eye on.
"We only have three or four guys that had any experience from last year," said Campopiano, who is beginning his 13th season at the Raiders' helm. "We have talent, but young talent, and it will take a while to develop. But I think we'll be OK, and I think we'll get better and better as the year goes on."

Graduation took away a lot of the key ingredients to last season's talented team that owned a 9-3 overall record (6-1 in the regular season), shared the Division II-B regular-season championship with Cranston High, and reached the semifinals of the Division II playoffs.
Gone is All-State tailback and two-time 1,000-yard rusher Hershel Williams and several key veteran lineman such as William Ball and Michael Smith.
The two big names back from last season are senior quarterback Albert Amado, who threw for over 1,000 yards and also did his share of damage on the ground, and senior fullback Mark Vassallo, a four-year varsity player and versatile standout who can also play linebacker or defensive end. Junior Max Perry, another key returnee, is a top-notch lineman.
After those three standouts are a bunch of players who are looking to break through and make their presence felt in the starting lineup and a handful who are trying to vault into the team's traditionally-talented backfield.
"We have a bunch of guys who can run," added Campopiano. "We're looking at six or seven guys, and right now, they are all working hard."
Hard work is going to be the key to the Raiders' fortunes in the early going if they plan on earning a playoff berth for the ninth time in the last 11 seasons, but Campopiano would rather have his team merely focus on the present and not look too far ahead into the future.
"We'd like to get back to the playoffs, but we just to take things one game at a time like we always do," he added. "Our goal each week is to get better and better, and come playoff time, hopefully we will be in the mix."
The Division II-B battles promise to again be tough this season, and Campopiano believes that the team to beat could be Toll Gate High, which was 5-2 in league play last year and brings back most of last season's arsenal.
"Toll Gate has (tailback Doug) Johnson and a lot of good guys coming back," added Campopiano. "Lincoln came on strong at the end of last year and they should be good, and Cumberland should also do very well, especially since they had that good freshman team a couple of years ago. I think it's going to be a pretty competitive league, but right now, I'll have to give the edge to Toll Gate."
The Raiders will open their season in the friendly confines of Max Read Field with a Sept. 12 non-league encounter against Division I power La Salle Academy for the third straight season, and they will begin their league schedule the following Friday night with a home test against Lincoln.