Greensburg Central Catholic quarterback Cody Catalina, a Syracuse University recruit, figures to give the Centurions a strong passing game

A preseason breakdown of the Interstate Conference will show Greensburg Central Catholic and Jeannette as the teams to beat. Both are talented and have legitimate conference title aspirations.

There is another team, however, that is expected to make plenty of noise. This team won its conference last season, has plenty of talent back, and despite being a little unfamiliar with its new surroundings, has conference -- and WPIAL -- title aspirations itself.

The Yough Cougars are the new kids on the block in the Interstate. After ascending to the peak of the Class AAA Keystone Conference last season and finishing 8-2, Yough dropped to Class AA. They go from being the smallest school in AAA to being the biggest in AA.

Yet, despite the drop in class, the Cougars join a conference that is loaded with outstanding opponents.

"It's going to be a little different story this year, not knowing too much about the conference," said Jim Wehner, who is in his second year as the Cougars' coach.

"I think it is the best conference in Double-A. But on the other hand, we've got a pretty good football team. If you can make the playoffs in this conference, I think you have a legit shot of winning [the WPIAL title]."

Considering the players the Cougars have returning, those lofty expectations don't seem like a stretch.

Senior quarterback Justin Shaffer (6 feet 4, 190 pounds) passed for 1,215 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Both of his favorite targets return as well. Senior Tom Burkett (6-0, 185) hauled in 23 receptions for 379 yards and eight touchdowns, while fellow senior Craig Sedunov (5-11, 185) caught 20 passes for 387 yards and nine touchdowns. Sedunov also ran for 397 yards.

Also returning is senior running back Cody Wilson (6-1, 200), who rushed for 1,102 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2005. Wehner said Wilson's play will be instrumental in the Cougars' success.

"I think the whole key for us is 'Can we run the ball with Cody Wilson?' I think we can," Wehner said.

"I haven't seen a lot of tailbacks, but I think Cody Wilson could be one of the best tailbacks in the whole WPIAL."

Yough averaged 27 points per game last season and failed to score at least 20 just once. The Cougars fell to Blackhawk, 42-20, in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

Greensburg Central Catholic

Quick: How many WPIAL teams have a quarterback, running back and wide receiver headed for Division I football next season?

Answer: Only one. That exciting trio will try to lead the Centurions back to the WPIAL championship game once again.

Quarterback Cody Catalina and running back Max Suter are Syracuse recruits, and wide receiver Nick Sukay has committed to Penn State.

Catalina (6-2, 200) threw for 1,352 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Suter (5-11, 185) ran for 1,420 yards and 25 touchdowns, and Sukay (6-3, 200) had 29 receptions for 658 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The Centurions, the defending Interstate champs, went 11-1, 7-0 last year, losing only in the WPIAL final to South Park, the eventual PIAA champion.

Jeannette

All eyes will be on quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who is considered one of the top junior basketball players in the nation, Pryor will try to enhance his growing football reputation as well.

As a sophomore, Pryor (6-6, 220) ran for 596 yards and 12 touchdowns, and passed for 647 yards and six scores. His play helped Jeannette go 8-2, 6-1.

Joining Pryor will be senior wide receiver Davonte Shannon (6-1, 175), junior running back/defensive back Jerry Harris (5-10, 160) and junior fullback/linebacker Mike Matt (6-1, 205).

Ray Reitz returns for his second season at Jeannette. The Jayhawks lost to Mohawk, 33-0, in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs last season.

Burrell

A big change is in store for the Buccaneers, as they lost not just one Henderson, but two -- Tyler, the school's all-time leading rusher, and his father, Tom, their head coach for the past 13 seasons.

Dave Heavner steps in as coach and hopes to continue the momentum of the Bucs' 9-2 finish a season ago.

"2006 begins a new chapter in Burrell football history," Heavner said, "but one thing will remain the same -- the tradition of Burrell football."

Expected to play major roles are junior quarterback Seth Napierkowski (6-3, 197), who tossed 18 touchdowns last season, and running back/defensive back Jordan Pisano (5-11, 180).

Valley

After an 0-2 start last season, the Vikings rebounded to make their first playoff appearance since 2000. A year later, they hope to make the postseason an annual occurrence in coach Troy Hill's third season..

Passing will be a key to their hopes this season. Although quarterback Anthony Howell graduated, there are two terrific senior wide receivers on hand: Toney Clemons and Madison Harvey.

Clemons (6-2, 190) caught 43 passes for 666 yards and 13 touchdowns last year and is considered one of the top receivers in the state. Harvey (5-11, 185) hauled in 40 passes for 615 yards and seven touchdowns.

Valley defeated South Fayette, 27-20, and lost to Greensburg Central Catholic, 20-18, in the 2005 playoffs.

East Allegheny

Playing in a conference with Greensburg Central Catholic and Jeannette wasn't easy for the Wildcats (2-7, 1-6) last season.

East Allegheny does, however, return seven offensive and eight defensive starters, and has a new coach, Dennis Edwards, previously an assistant at the school.

"It will be an exciting season," Edwards said. "We have a veteran team with a mixture of good young talent."

Junior running back/defensive back Chris Loving (5-5, 150) is the Wildcats' top returning offensive player. He scored 13 touchdowns last season. Also expected to provide major contributions are senior quarterback/linebacker Lee Marts (6-2, 205) and junior fullback/linebacker Joe Kiesel (6-0, 195).