RINGWOOD — Ringwood has reason for optimism as the Red Devils enter the 2007 season.

The Red Devils return 10 players with starting experience from a 9-2 team that lost to Ryan 42-12 in the second round of the playoffs. A last-minute, 22-14 loss to Covington-Douglas was the lone black mark of the regular season.

“A lot of people saw playing time a year ago,’’ said Ringwood coach Doug Seely. “We have size on the line, we can run and we have depth at running back.’’

Quarterback Chad Palmer helped direct an offensive attack that averaged 44 points in the regular season, allowing Seely to sub early and often. The Red Devils allowed only 108 points.

Palmer completed 34 of 66 passes for 637 yards and eight touchdowns with four interceptions. He ran for 424 yards on 78 carries for a 5.4-yard average. He scored eight touchdowns. He intercepted four passes on defense.

Junior tailback-linebacker John Conaway averaged 8.7 yards per carry in rushing for 739 yards and 12 touchdowns. He caught 17 passes for 271 yards and five scores.

He had 59 tackles on defense, 37 solo, four quarterback sacks, 10 tackles for losses and an interception.

Other starters back are Levon Nichols, a 285-pound senior center-defensive end; Shay Unruh, a 185-pound junior end-cornerback; Matt Evans, a 240-pound guard-defensive end; Logan McEachern, a 295-pound junior guard; Andrew Muller, a 200-pound junior end; Trevor Schomber, a 210-pound junior end; Chad Wostal, a 190-pound senior fullback-linebacker; and Pablo Aguilar, a 180-pound junior fullback-safety.

Unruh had 40 tackles and intercepted two passes. He caught 10 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns. Evans had 21.5 tackles last season.

Schomber had 22 tackles last season. Wostal rushed for 310 yards on 45 carries and scored a touchdown. He had 17.5 tackles.

Seely is counting on Josh Fick, a 175-pound junior guard-safety; and Christian Rojas, a 215-pound junior guard-defensive end.

The nine victories a year ago were the most by a Ringwood team since a 9-2 season in 1989.