BURRELL

There is considerable excitement circulating around this Bucs team, not only because it reached the WPIAL Class AA semifinals last season and won its first 11 games, but even moreso because Burrell has what many consider to be the two top skill-position players in the Allegheny Conference returning in senior running back Tyler Henderson (6-1, 200) and senior receiver Aaron Brown (6-2, 205).

The pair combined to accumulate almost 2,000 yards of offense in the regular season last year. Both were all-conference performers -- with Brown being named on both sides of the ball -- and they will be the undoubted core of coach Tom Henderson's offensive attack.

When playing Burrell this year, it truly will be a case of pick your poison -- do you try to stop the run or the pass? But Tom Henderson was also quick to point out that he had more in his offensive arsenal, namely senior receiver Ryan Ruckus (5-8, 160), who small in stature but, as the coach said, "the meanest, nastiest kid I have ever coached pound-for-pound."

Having all that skill is one thing, but keeping the opposition off the aforementioned skill players will be Burrell's largest point of emphasis this season.

John Brown, Jr. was a stalwart on both lines for the Bucs last season and might have been the best lineman in Class AA. He was named all-conference on both sides of the football, but he's at Pitt now and finding players to fill the gaping hole left by his graduation is a key.

If the Bucs have linemen step up, there could be loads of success. Conversely, if the line underachieves, Burrell's win total will be directly affected.

"We are talking a lot about our skill kids this year, and rightly so," Tom Henderson said. "But, people need to remember that games are won and lost up front, on both lines.

"We have to get the chemistry down on our lines if we're going to be successful."

VALLEY

When he took the job before last season, coach Troy Hill, a former Pitt defensive back, vowed that he would improve the Vikings.

He had an immediate impact, as Valley jumped to a 5-1 record before dropping three in a row. All that said, he definitely has the program headed in a positive route.

When you talk about Valley this year, the talk has to begin with junior receiver Toney Clemons (6-4, 190), who was an all-conference performer last season, averaging a gaudy 19.5 yards per catch. Clemons is a speedster from an athletic family and has a chance to be one of the most decorated and highly recruited players in Vikings history if he continues to improve.

Hill was quoted last year as saying, "As far as I'm concerned, he's the next Larry Fitzgerald."

While statements like that might be jumping the gun a tad, what can be said with relative confidence is that Clemons is an unquestioned difference-maker who has the ability to greatly affect the outcome of a contest.

Quarterback Anthony Howell (6-0, 195), a senior, will be given the responsibility to ensure the ball finds Clemons' hands and that the Valley offense is smoothly run. Howell's presence and how he performs could be the deciding factor in the bottom line -- wins and losses.

While the Howell-to-Clemons duo will pace the offense, the Vikings will count on senior linebacker Tyler Santucci (6-2, 235) to be the biggest difference-maker when the opposition has the football.

Santucci is coming off an all-conference season and will be the linchpin for a Vikings defense that lost the final three games last season but yielded just 52 points in that span.

So, it's pretty simple this year, if the Vikings are able to score points, they have a good shot at securing a playoff spot, but if the offense doesn't click, Valley might have a hard time.

EAST ALLEGHENY

The Wildcats have to deal with the loss of both their starting quarterback and tailback as they come off a season in which they went 8-2 but lost in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs, 21-8, against Beaver Falls.

Javon Moody rushed for 868 regular-season yards and scored 16 touchdowns but he is gone, as is starting quarterback Frank McElroy, who was a solid passer and runner in East Allegheny's scheme last year.

The skill positions are not totally barren, though, as wide receiver James King (5-7, 165) is a speedster who will cause fits for opposing defensive backs. It will more than likely be the duty of senior Joe Volpe (5-11, 180) to get the fotball to players such as King. Volpe is penciled in as the starter at quarterback.

The running game will be on the shoulders of two relatively inexperienced players in senior Brian Evans (5-9, 165) and sophomore Chris Loving (5-7, 150).

Look for senior Nick Martz (6-3, 265), a solid performer last year, to anchor both lines and provide proven leadership across the front.

Cortazzo will coach with a heavy heart this year, as his father, Frank, died late last month. Frank Cortazzo Sr. also coached at East Allegheny.

The Wildcats will travel to Keystone Oaks and West Shamokin in non-conference games. Those two teams combined to go 1-17 last season.

GREENSBURG CENTRAL CATHOLIC

Not many teams in Class AA can boast the kind of offensive backfield that coach Muzzy Colosimo's squad is going to put on the field this season.

Senior Nathan Argenta (5-11, 190) and junior Max Suter (5-11, 185) are both coming off all-conference seasons and are expected to cause headaches for opposing defenses because there will seemingly always be a fresh player with the football in his hands.

Neither one of them was in the WPIAL's list of top 25 rushers last season, but that's because they split the carries and, along with the now-departed Mike Venditti, made up quite a triumvirate on the ground.

When the Centurions choose to go to the air, the most likely target will be junior receiver Nick Sukay (6-3, 193), who in addition to being a great route runner is also one of Greensburg Central Catholic's top players on defense as a defensive back.

The Centurions will also get a big boost from senior tight end Jason Glass (6-5, 220). He is a solid blocker, but is also nimble enough to slip off the line and cause fits for a linebacker trying to cover him.

The biggest question with Colosimo's Centurions will be the brutes up front. Greensburg Central Catholic had stellar line play last season, but that was due in large part to Alex Karabin and Colin Trenk, both of whom graduated, attained all-conference status and left a sizeable void.

That hole, though, could be filled by senior Kaz Revers (6-2, 250), who showed flashes of great play last year and needs to have solid performances each week this season. Senior center Dave O'Hara (6-2, 180), senior lineman Luke Bobnar (5-10, 180) and senior lineman Shane Purvis (6-2, 260) will also be looked at to complement Revers and provide running room for the Centurions' ground attack.

JEANNETTE

There are big changes in Jeannette, and it's not just that coach Ray Reitz enters his first year as Bob Murphy's replacement.

The Jayhawks will go with a wing-T look this season, as quarterback Jordan Thomas departed after throwing for almost 1,000 regular-season yards.

Look for sophomore Terrelle Pryor (6-6, 210) to step in and be the quarterback. Also a stellar basketball player, many believe Pryor can be the next big two-sport star in the WPIAL if he continues to progress.

As with any team that runs the wing-T, the offensive line will be key and Jeannette is pretty deep at the position, with eight players who will be in the mix.

The line took a hit when senior Ryan Reitz (6-2, 270) went down with a knee injury, but he is apparently going to try to tough it out and play this season. Senior Shawn Walker (6-1, 190) is also a force up front, as is senior Adam Guzik (6-2, 240), junior Dayton Wolfe (6-0, 210).

Junior Jason Kearns (6-2, 220) sophomore Jason Marquis (5-10, 250) junior Tank Westphall (5-7, 210) and junior Matt Highlands (5-10, 220) will provide depth in the new scheme.

Reitz also has what he describes as a "stable of running backs."

Sophomore halfback Jerry Harris (5-10, 160) has looked very good, as has junior running back Davonte Shannon (6-1, 175). Toss in other solid runners Akeile Day (5-7, 186), a junior, and senior Troy Johnson (6-3, 210), and you can see why Reitz is excited about his offensive backfield.

"I'm fortunate to be part of one of the greatest all-time programs in the WPIAL," Reitz said "This is such an honor for me to be the head coach of the school I love. But, I realize it is about the kids and they are the ones who will make the biggest difference this year.

"We have some tough, hard-nosed kids who want to win, that's for sure."

The Jayhawks will have to fight through a strenuous early-season schedule, playing three of their first four games on the road with the lone home date in there being against always tough Washington.