Everybody laments the loss of their seniors, but Salem football coach Scott Connolly can excused if he laments just a little more.The Witches don’t just have big shoes to fill ? they have king-sized shoes ? enormous shoes.”You don’t replace a guy like Melikke van Alstyne,” said Connolly about his all-star running back. “That’s athletically, as well as his presence as the team captain. He was just unbelievable.”But where no one person can take van Alstyne’s place, perhaps – Connolly says – a few of them can.”We do have some pretty good senior leadership,” he said, “and we have some athletic juniors, and that could be a help.”But it’s tough,” he said. “You just can’t replace someone like that ? everything he brings to the table.”Even with van Alstyne, however, Salem had a rough season in 2008. After winning its first three games, the Witches fell on some hard times, dropping seven straight – including some excruciatingly close calls. One that sticks out, to Connolly, was a 34-30 loss to Peabody.”You try, when you play games, not to dwell too much on what happened last year,” Connolly said, “but at the same time, you remember.”By the same token, Connolly and the Witches would love to hang onto the feeling they had on Thanksgiving, then van Alstyne ran wild and Salem stunned Beverly.”That win has kind of launches us into this season,” Connolly said. “We’re ready to hit the ground moving.”The Witches do have some experience coming back, beginning with captains Tyler Mason (guard/linebacker) and Josh Sanchez (two-way tackle).Also returning are running back David Kendrick (who had more than 700 yards as Salem’s second option behind van Alstyne), quarterback Brad Skeffington, who started the last five games; center/noseguard Joe King; tight end/linebacker Antonio Reyes; receiver Josh Gillooly; Chris Bozarjian (receiver/defensive back); Joe Dinh (receiver/safety); Nate Staples (running back/corner); and James Labao (linebacker/guard).The Witches also liked what they say from running back Max Feeley and Fausto Beato during camp.”Our strengths are our overall athleticism,” said Connolly. “We’re not going to scare anyone coming off the bus. We’re not very big. But we are athletic.”