RAYMOND — Like any small-school program, Central Hinds took a hit when it lost nine seniors from last year’s district championship team.

Unlike a lot of other programs, the Cougars don’t expect to miss a beat.

CHA will replace most of the departed players with up-and-comers who are just as big and fast as their predecessors. The early results are positive as CHA defeated Humphreys Academy 9-6 in the season opener.

“We’ve got the nucleus to have a decent football team — if we don’t get hurt,” CHA coach Bobby Allen said. “We’ve got folks that we can feel comfortable with. We’ve got holes that we’re trying to cover up, but everybody in 1A is going to have that.”

It’s easy to cover up holes when you have 285-pounders waiting in the wings. That’s how big sophomore lineman Nick Mitchell is. He’ll join 295-pound senior Justin Edwards to bookend a sound offensive line. They’ll also plug up the middle of the defensive line.

Behind them, senior quarterback Trey Lathem — who also had nine interceptions as a defensive back in 2007 — returns for his second season as the starter but he’ll need to find some new weapons. Tailback Ryan Oliver (1,251 yards and 13 TDs in 2007) and leading receiver Ben Lowery both graduated. Allen wasn’t concerned, though, saying the Cougars have several players ready to fill the void.

Andrew Shelby will slide into the role of featured back, while sophomore Hunter Farrior will provide the second half of a one-two punch.

“(Farrior) was outstanding in junior high and he’ll do well in high school,” Allen said.

Connor Brown and tight end Kameron Hammond will provide a couple of targets for Lathem in the passing game. Lathem threw for 888 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Brown had 530 rushing yards in 2007, but will play receiver this year.

“We’ve got six pretty good skill players,” Allen said.

The Cougars will need them. They face a tough schedule that includes only one non-district game against a Class A team — its opener against Humphreys Academy, which went 8-4 and reached the playoffs last season. CHA’s other non-district games are against Manchester, River Oaks, Prairie View, Amite and Prentiss Christian.

The district schedule will also be a dogfight. Central Hinds, Benton and Porters Chapel waged a three-way battle for the title last season and all are expected to contend again.