There’s no question that the Bishop Hendricken football team is once again the favorite in Division I entering the 2016 season.

After winning an unprecedented sixth-straight title last fall, the Hawks will return a bevy of key starters for this season while many teams around the league will be left in rebuilding mode after graduating key contributors.

On both sides of the ball, the Hawks look to be stacked.

They’ll return the best player this state’s seen in a long time in Boston College commit Kwity Paye, who will be causing headaches for opposing offenses off the edge all season long.

In addition to Paye, Hendricken will have valuable experience at arguably the most important position on the field – quarterback.

Chris Hindle should be the state’s top quarterback as a senior after posting 20 touchdowns – 16 passing and four rushing – as a junior.

And he’ll have no shortage of weapons around him.

Matt DiTondo will return for his senior season after compiling six rushing touchdowns out of the backfield last season, while Andrew Hopgood, a First Team All-State defensive back last year, can also provide a spark at the receiver position.

The offensive line will return three of its five starters as well, with center Michael Charnley, left tackle David DeCesare and right tackle Aidan Corcoran set to provide protection for a potentially potent offense.

On defense, Paye will be joined up front by linebacker Sam Hill and linemen Nick Martino and Jordan Carvalho – all four of whom were in the top six in tackles for Hendricken a season ago.

Hopgood will be joined in the secondary by DiTondo, a safety who was fourth on the team with 47 tackles last season, and Anthony Witherstone, who was second on the Hawks in interceptions as a junior behind Hopgood with four.

Hendricken should have a leg up in special teams too.

Kicker Ryan Blais and punter Andrew Flint will both be back after effective seasons in 2015.

In terms of a division outlook, the state’s top grouping has gotten a makeover this year.

With the addition of five teams – Rogers, St. Ray’s, Tolman, Woonsocket and Central – all of whom moved up from Division II, D-I will now consist of 14 teams broken down into two 7-team subdivisions.

The two most dominant teams in recent years, Hendricken and La Salle, will be separated to headline their respective subdivisions.

The Hawks will be grouped in Division I-A with South Kingstown, which should have a strong team this season, East Providence, Cranston West, Portsmouth, St. Raphael and Woonsocket.

Hendricken will kick off its season on Friday night at 6:45 p.m. at Cranston Stadium with an Injury Fund matchup against reigning Division II champion Moses Brown.

It will then host a non-league game against Connecticut power Notre Dame of West Haven, Connecticut, next Friday at 7 p.m., before beginning league play on Sept. 16, at Pierce Memorial Stadium against East Providence at 7 p.m.

Hendricken’s remaining schedule goes as follows: vs. South Kingstown (9/23), vs. St. Raphael (9/30), at Cranston West (10/7), at Portsmouth (10/21), vs. Woonsocket (10/28) and at La Salle (11/4).