In his first year as a varsity quarterback last year, Northampton junior Gavin Taff became competent many things, one mainly was not to take anything for granted.

“I learned that me and our team as a whole cannot settle,” said Taff. “We can’t feel comfortable after reaching certain goals because there are always more to achieve.

“I am feeling more comfortable coming into this season knowing that I play an even bigger role being a leader and playmaker on the team.”

After he took over the reins in the second game of the season, Taff completed five of six passes for 72 yards in guiding the team to a 51-0 victory over Pocono Mountain East. For the season, Taff completed 98 of 142 attempts for 1,272 yards with 12 touchdowns and three interceptions.

This season, Taff will be among some key playmakers for the Konkrete Kids, who finished with an overall 13-2 record last year. Their postseason ended with a 21-7 loss to eventual district champion Nazareth in the Class 6A semifinal. They rebounded with a 47-7 victory over Catasauqua in their annual Thanksgiving Day classic.

The Kids begin their summer with speed training workouts and also seven-on-seven passing camps against Northwestern, Northern Lehigh, Pennridge, Dieruff, Freedom, Palmerton, and Southern Lehigh throughout the summer.

Head coach John Toman, who is beginning his fourth year with an overall 34-5 record, will look to running back/linebacker Billy Stuhldreher and Zeke Spencer, running back/defensive back Wesley Valera, linemen Gavin Grell and Kaden Garris, H-back Spencer Wadlington, and wide receiver Devlin Chevere and also wide receiver Tymir Williams, who missed last season due to an injury.

The Kids will leave the East Penn Conference North, where they have won the last three titles, and move into the new Northampton County division, in which they’ll have Nazareth, Easton, Freedom, Bethlehem Catholic, Liberty, Whitehall, East Stroudsburg South, Pocono Mountain West, and Parkland.

They will scrimmage Upper Perkiomen, and open the season against Pennsbury, a traditional Class 6A power in Bucks County. Off a 9-2 season the previous year, Pennsbury was 5-6 last year.

Toman knows the upcoming season will be a challenge.

“The week-in and week-out will prepare us far better than the (EPC) North schedule,” noted Toman. “As far as opening against Pennsbury, it’s going to be a great test for us.”