Senior linebacker Jake Bushman is among the key returning players on defense for Clackamas. (NW Sports Photography)

It didn’t take long for the Clackamas Cavaliers to realize that repeating as Class 6A football champions in 2018 is going to be a much different kind of challenge.

They got their first taste of it while competing at the Linfield team camp this summer.

“We had some teams that really played us tough, and I thought played with a lot more energy and sense of urgency than we did at times,” said Clackamas coach Joe Bushman, who led the team to a 14-0 record and the school’s first title last year.

“Something we’ve really been emphasizing is being hungry. Our rallying cry has been the word ‘insatiable,’ to not be satisfied. That was fun last year, why not go get another one?”

Clackamas will enter the season confident despite losing its quarterback, top two rushers and top three receivers to graduation. The Cavaliers appear to be loaded on defense and have a promising collection of skill players, bolstered by transfers.

“We’ve got a lot of new faces and holes to fill, but we definitely have some talented kids,” Bushman said. “We’ve got some weapons, man, there’s no doubt. They’re just not as polished.”

Clackamas can build around two outstanding offensive linemen in junior Alex Hall, who will move from guard to center, and senior tackle Brian Espinoza.

“I like our line. I think it can be similar to last year’s group,” Bushman said.

Senior Thomas Tolonen and junior Richard Kennewell return at wide receiver and are joined by two senior transfers: Nehemiah Dedmon (Jefferson) and Jailen Hammer (Sprague).

“We’re playing them in the slot,” Bushman said of Dedmon and Hammer. “They’re very dynamic athletes.”

The big key will be replacing quarterback Mitchell Modjeski, who threw for 3,255 yards and 32 touchdowns with five interceptions last season.

The Cavaliers believe they have two excellent candidates in junior Austin Atkeson, who led the freshman and JV teams to undefeated seasons the last two years, and highly touted junior transfer C.J. Jordan, the former starter at Jefferson.

Atkeson and Jordan are competing for the starting job. Both are dual threats who have a knack for making plays, a change from Modjeski, who was primarily a pocket passer.

“Both of these guys can definitely run the football,” Bushman said. “We’ve got two guys that can play, no doubt. They’re in a good battle. I really like the way Austin has responded to having competition. He’s really upped his game. They’re both going to get opportunities to play. We’re going to be good no matter who’s in there.”

The defensive front looks to be especially stout. Clackamas has three key returning starters in senior linemen Kelsen Hennessy (Oregon State commit) and Justice Pagan and senior linebacker Jake Bushman. Hall will see time at nose guard.

“We could potentially be better up front. We really like our interior defense,” Joe Bushman said.

Much will depend on how Clackamas rebuilds its secondary.

“If we can play well in the secondary, we’re going to be a tough defense,” Joe Bushman said.

The Cavaliers open the season Friday in Hawaii against Iolani of Honolulu. Their expanded nonleague schedule includes games against Sherwood, Beaverton, Lake Oswego and Lincoln.

Coming off the title, the 2018 Cavaliers will try to forge a new identity.

“It’s a new team,” Joe Bushman said. “We have a lot of kids with plenty to prove.”