Fighting through adversity is how Farrington football coach Randall Okimoto looks at this new season.

The Govs — the No. 6 team in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Preseason Top 10 — lost five starters to other schools via transfers and another starter did not come out for football. Also, the team is practicing on a dusty field more than a mile from campus.

“It’s regulation size, but nothing but dirt,” coach Randall Okimoto said about the Kalakaua Intermediate School field.

Okimoto and the Govs are eagerly anticipating the renovation of their field on campus that will have Fieldturf and new locker rooms and bleachers before the 2016 season.

Despite the hard times, Okimoto is thrilled with the turnout — 50 varsity players, the most in a long time.

Getting over the annual late-season speed bump (Farrington is always contending for the league and state crowns) will be the team’s biggest obstacle.

“It’s always a challenge,” Okimoto said, “getting over that final hump. We always have the same problem. Some schools have elite talent and are a little ahead of our players in their football lives. Some of our kids have never played football before.”

With mostly all juniors on offense, it appears that side of the ball will be somewhat of a question mark. The Govs won’t be able to hand it to graduated speedster Ranan Mamiya, but they have the dynamic Challen Faamatau back as a junior workhorse.

Three words sum up Farrington’s bread and butter — the offensive line, known as the Bamboolas: “Big again. Wide!” the coach proclaimed.

Nothing new there, although only one starter returns from the first unit — senior tackle Mealofa Sevao. The biggest? That would be junior Poa Moanaanu at 6 feet 2, 4 bills.

Three players are vying for the QB spot, including two junior transfers. Senior Joziah Anakalea was the backup a year ago. Justin Uahinui arrived from Kaiser and Bishop Rapoza came in from Moanalua.

Tanu Tautolo and Freedom Alualu bolster the running back crew, and senior captain Jathen Chaffin and Kingston Moses-Sanchez are among the receivers who expect to see plenty of time.

“Our mind-set this year is to work as one,” Chaffin said. “The leaders are trying to get it across and have a voice that we are not going to get it done if we don’t play with discipline and play for each other.”

Senior captains Joey Maae and Andrew Aneki are the leaders of a solid corps of linebackers that also includes Tautolo, who will go both ways.

Two senior transfers — Kelemete Lam Sam from Damien and Aberdean Finau from Kailua — help shore up a solid defensive line.

“We’re more focused and more hungrier this year,” Maae said. “We have unfinished business to take care of.”

Indeed, the Govs took third in the Oahu Interscholastic Association and lost to eventual Division I state champion Mililani by a field goal, 17-14, in the state semifinals.

“We have a bye during the first week (Aug. 7-8) and after that it’s eight straight weeks,” Okimoto said. “Our thinking is we have to finish first or second (in the OIA Blue) to get that bye and then we get to host. We haven’t lost a playoff game at home (Roosevelt’s Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium) since I’ve been coaching here.”