Steely McBeam won't be there, but that's not the best thing about scholastic football in Western Pennsylvania. Quite simply, it's the spectacle itself. There isn't a more entertaining -- and cheaper -- night out. Here are 20 questions pertaining to the upcoming season in the PG East:

1. Does Gateway have the talent to win the BCS championship?

2. The Super Bowl?

3. Could Central Catholic, likewise with a mother lode of quality players, be the Gators' most formidable challenger in WPIAL Quad-A?

4. Then again, could Norwin slide past Central for the Foothills Conference championship? (The Knights, coming off six straight losing seasons, has Mike Shanahan, Tyler Urban, Mike Salopek and a lot of promise.)

5. Has Woodland Hills actually fallen short of the WPIAL semifinals three of the past four years?

6. Can the Wolverines, with an all-time low of one returning starter -- offensive lineman Tim Jessell -- still develop into a quality team?

7. Will Tom Fulton and D.J. Wilds of Penn Hills evolve into one of the top passing combinations in the WPIAL?

8. OK, the obvious but, until now, unasked question: How much of an impact will the Duquesne kids have at East Allegheny?

9. There are a lot of good teams and players in the East region. But if rankings and recruiting services are an accurate barometer, are Jeannette and Terrelle Pryor the best of the best? (The Jayhawks are the Post-Gazette's No. 1 team in WPIAL Class AA, and at least one service considers Pryor the nation's top scholastic quarterback.)

10. Speaking of Pryor ... has there been a Western Pennsylvania athlete in the past 30 years better suited to play Division I football AND basketball?

11. Greensburg Central Catholic, the WPIAL Class AA silver medalist last November, had a talent drain. But would it surprise anyone if the Centurions rebounded?

12. Speaking of rebounding ... How well will Kiski Area's Josh Vick do? (He passed for 1,147 yards through the first four weeks of last season, tops in the WPIAL. Then his left knee was wrecked, necessitating surgery.)

13. Speaking of quality quarterbacks ... Will Kyle Simmons improve on his 1,399 yards passing and lead Plum to the postseason?

14. Will the training camp winner -- Pat McEwen or Matt Hyland -- become the 12th Penn-Trafford quarterback to throw for 1,000 yards in the past 15 seasons?

15. Can Isaiah Jackson and the Serra Catholic Eagles make it to Heinz Field?

16. Will Riverview opponents get their just Dezorts when confronted by twins Jake and Josh Dezort?

17. Will Allderdice, with Joe Short on the run, return to the City League playoffs?

18. Peabody-Westinghouse is one of the most storied rivalries in Western Pennsylvania, an annual East End grudge match frequently played for high stakes. It's gone tepid; the last time both made the City playoffs was 2001. Wouldn't a revival of this one be great?

19. Coaching Milestones for 300, Alex. Answer: Muzzy Colosimo of Greensburg Central Catholic and Bob Flaus of Peabody. Question: Who is heading for 100 coaching victories? (Colosimo has 94, Flaus 93.)

20. How will Todd Massack and C.J. Connor fare in their first season as head coach at Riverview and Westinghouse?

Preseason East Fab 22

We write this every year, and it's true every year. This team and the final one in December will be different. Regardless, here is our predicted Fab 22 in the PG East:

Joe Short, RB, Allderdice

Tino Sunseri, QB, Central Catholic

Andrew Taglianetti, DB, Central Catholic

Dan Vaughan, DL, Central Catholic

Quentin Williams, TE, Central Catholic

Malik Washington, DB, East Allegheny

Brian Bevilacqua, G, Franklin Regional

Dorian Bell, LB, Gateway

Shayne Hale, LB, Gateway

Cameron Saddler, RB-DB, Gateway

B.J. Stevens, DL, Gateway

Chris Hayden-Martin, DB, Greensburg CC

Terrelle Pryor, QB, Jeannette

Josh Vick, QB, Kiski Area

Mike Shanahan, WR-DB, Norwin

Tyler Urban, LB, Norwin

Tom Fulton, QB, Penn Hills

D.J. Wilds, WR-DB, Penn Hills

Justin Edwards, WR-DB, Penn-Trafford

Kyle Simmons, QB-DB, Plum

Jake Dezort, DL, Riverview

Isaiah Jackson, RB, Serra Catholic

Title predictions

The coffers are threadbare. We had to spring for a new crystal ball after cracking one last August, when we predicted only one of four WPIAL champions -- Thomas Jefferson in Class AAA -- and bombed with Perry in the City League.

Let's try again. This year's champs will be ... Gateway (AAAA), Thomas Jefferson (AAA), Aliquippa (AA), Clairton (A).

City League: Brashear.

Fun with statistics

Final Regular Season

(Does not include playoff games)

Rushing

Name, School.....Att.....Yds.....Avg

Bill Bair, Mars.....177.....1733.....9.8

Jordan Clemons, Fort Cherry.....221.....1682.....7.6

John Fuhrer, Keystone Oaks.....286.....1619.....5.7

Max Suter, Greensburg C.C......165.....1545.....9.4

Troy Garove, Trinity.....197.....1502.....7.6

Troy Cree, Waynesburg.....199.....1498.....7.5

Cody Wilson, Yough.....135.....1445.....10.7

Jared Williams, Perry.....193.....1382.....7.2

Jake Wickline, Riverside.....190.....1181.....6.2

Justin Pratt, Bethel Park.....184.....1110.....6.0

John McCauley, Springdale.....141.....1083.....7.7

Shane Waida, Western Beaver.....206.....1080.....5.2

Nick Fazio, Peters Township.....219.....1070.....4.9

Scott Jones, Connellsville.....188.....1057.....5.6

Kamryn Keys, McKeesport.....141.....1052.....7.5

Vince Veltre, Pine-Richland.....208.....1051.....5.1

Jared Rains, Hopewell.....175.....1050.....6.0

Anthony Schulli, Fox Chapel.....210.....1045.....5.0

Marcus Pollard, Steel Valley.....144.....1039.....7.2

Joe Short, Allderdice.....143.....1023.....7.2

Ryan Shepard, Kittanning.....121.....1020.....8.4

Derek Bush, Ford City.....136.....1015.....7.5

Isaiah Jackson, Serra.....115.....984.....8.6

Matt Walter, Bishop Canevin.....179.....984.....5.5

Michael Battles, Moon.....150.....961.....6.4

Maurice Carter, Center.....151.....953.....6.3

Stewart Townsend, Peabody.....158.....927.....5.9

Christian Wilson, Montour.....159.....920.....5.8

Marc Rozanski, Serra.....97.....919.....9.5

Jake Hoffer, Mount Pleasant.....141.....901.....6.4

Zaire Washington, Clairton.....124.....900.....7.3

Donte Valentino, California.....95.....891.....9.4

Terrelle Pryor, Jeannette.....95.....884.....9.3

Eddie Beveridge, Seton-LaSalle.....137.....883.....6.4

Brian Baldridge, Thomas Jefferson.....119.....879.....7.4

Chris Loving, East Allegheny.....146.....859.....5.9

Kyle Fisher-Law, Ringgold.....184.....859.....4.7

Lee Howatneck, Franklin Regional.....132.....848.....6.4

Monte Ashby, Duquesne.....139.....831.....6.0

Erik Frund, Southmoreland.....155.....823.....5.3

Dan Kozak, Norwin.....148.....819.....5.5

Marvase Byrd, McKeesport.....73.....810.....11.1

Darwin Banks, Valley.....105.....807.....7.7

Sal Ruggeri, South Side Beaver.....159.....806.....5.1

Scoring

Name, School.....TD.....XP.....Tot

Max Suter, Greensburg C.C......27.....2.....164

Bill Bair, Mars.....25.....0.....150

Derek Bush, Ford City.....23.....6.....144

Cody Wilson, Yough.....23.....0.....138

Derek Moye, Rochester.....22.....0.....132

Jordan Clemons, Fort Cherry.....20.....8.....128

Jared Williams, Perry.....21.....0.....126

Troy Cree, Waynesburg.....20.....2.....122

Leroy George, Clairton.....16.....18.....114

Matt Parker, Blackhawk.....18.....2.....110

Troy Garove, Trinity.....18.....0.....108

Da'Von Moore, Brentwood.....18.....0.....108

Kamryn Keys, McKeesport.....17.....2.....104

Darwin Banks, Valley.....17.....0.....102

Cameron Saddler, Gateway.....16.....0.....96

Justin Pratt, Bethel Park.....16.....0.....96

Brett Kerr, Laurel.....16.....0.....96

Isaiah Jackson, Serra.....16.....0.....96

Craig Sedunov, Yough.....15.....2.....92

Eddie Beveridge, Seton-LaSalle.....15.....0.....90

Donte Valentino, California.....15.....0.....90

Matt Walter, Bishop Canevin.....14.....2.....86

Marcus Pollard, Steel Valley.....14.....2.....86

Derek Taylor, Kittanning.....14.....2.....86

Terrelle Pryor, Jeannette.....14.....0.....84

Nick Fazio, Peters Township.....14.....0.....84

Jason Snyder, Indiana.....14.....0.....84

a-Dan Kozak, Norwin.....7.....24.....81

Christian Wilson, Montour.....13.....2.....80

Justin Falcon, Jefferson-Morgan.....13.....2.....80

John McCauley, Springdale.....13.....0.....78

John Fuhrer, Keystone Oaks.....13.....0.....78

Brian Baldridge, Thomas Jefferson.....13.....0.....78

Jared Rains, Hopewell.....13.....0.....78

Michael Battles, Moon.....13.....0.....78

Ryan Shepard, Kittanning.....13.....0.....78

Chip Young, Mt. Lebanon.....12.....2.....74

Jarrod Moskola, Jefferson-Morgan.....12.....2.....74

Dan Giegerich, Thomas Jefferson.....12.....0.....72

Matt Timko, North Hills.....12.....0.....72

Maurice Carter, Center.....12.....0.....72

Jake Wickline, Riverside.....12.....0.....72

Marc Rozanski, Serra.....12.....0.....72

Reon Hunter, Rochester.....7.....30.....72

a-Totals include five field goals.

Passing

Name, School.....Cmp.....Att.....TD.....Yds

Rocco Colavecchia, Shenango.....137.....251.....20.....2060

Erik Rasky, Penn-Trafford.....82.....171.....14.....1576

Nick Monteleone, Butler.....130.....245.....9.....1565

Jules Crosby, Sto-Rox.....97.....145.....20.....1518

Dan Pegg, Laurel Highlands.....124.....259.....9.....1510

Tyler Porco, Peters Township.....118.....214.....12.....1436

Eric Coxon, Brentwood.....92.....164.....13.....1317

Kyle Simmons, Plum.....99.....188.....9.....1305

Jeff Stewart, Bethel Park.....70.....105.....7.....1271

Brian Sweeney, Blackhawk.....85.....152.....12.....1236

Matt Rodgers, Seton-LaSalle.....92.....152.....16.....1219

Josh Vick, Kiski Area.....52.....101.....7.....1147

Jeff Joyce, Baldwin.....93.....188.....9.....1144

Marc Rozanski, Serra.....64.....148.....12.....1129

J.T. Redshaw, Norwin.....79.....149.....10.....1119

Doug Sanner, Uniontown.....81.....172.....8.....1119

Bob Bartley, Hampton.....74.....166.....12.....1112

Dave Duke, Ambridge.....74.....145.....11.....1092

Terrelle Pryor, Jeannette.....60.....101.....12.....1081

Edgar Banks, Montour.....90.....205.....7.....1076

DeVaughn Copeland, Oliver.....52.....112.....11.....1062

Tino Sunseri, Central Catholic.....60.....104.....11.....1020

Ryan Bailey, Peabody.....56.....130.....9.....1017

Spencer Whipple, Pine-Richland.....70.....122.....9.....1010

Joe Kulikoski, Frazier.....75.....130.....8.....987

Ryan Sabo, Steel Valley.....64.....117.....6.....966

Joby Lapkowicz, Carmichaels.....55.....163.....4.....938

Josh DePasquale, Chartiers-Houston.....50.....105.....8.....935

Aaron Smetanka, North Catholic.....62.....143.....5.....922

Robert Weber, Latrobe.....73.....140.....8.....921

D'Mar Jeter, Aliquippa.....49.....86.....10.....914

Nick Czapor, South Allegheny.....68.....115.....11.....907

Ted Pynos, Seneca Valley.....64.....128.....2.....901

Matt Linarelli, Cornell.....78.....136.....6.....895

D.J. Cannon, Mars.....38.....70.....8.....885

Pat McShane, Upper St. Clair.....51.....88.....10.....876

Cody Endres, Trinity.....60.....130.....9.....865

Brandon Myers, Elizabeth Forward.....66.....129.....2.....863

Rob Kalkstein, Gateway.....49.....98.....8.....858

Receiving

Name, School.....Rec.....Yds.....Avg

Randy Rankin, Laurel Highlands.....53.....688.....13.0

Joe Cangilla, Hampton.....46.....813.....17.7

Jordan Roycroft, Butler.....46.....657.....14.3

Bryce Pfeuffer, Montour.....43.....586.....13.6

Bo Hodgkiss, Seton-LaSalle.....42.....549.....13.1

Craig Bunney, Ambridge.....41.....691.....16.9

Josh Gumbert, Blackhawk.....41.....593.....14.5

Torsten Brown, Cornell.....41.....534.....13.0

Tim Picard, Bethel Park.....40.....827.....20.7

Ryan Schleicher, Baldwin.....39.....510.....13.1

Mike Carlino, Fox Chapel.....38.....532.....14.0

Luke O'Hara, Shenango.....37.....674.....18.2

Kevin Sanders, Uniontown.....37.....491.....13.3

Nicholas Sorice, Latrobe.....36.....669.....18.6

Anthony DiMichele, Sto-Rox.....36.....529.....14.7

Devin Goda, Elizabeth Forward.....35.....416.....11.9

Jon Staso, Serra.....34.....544.....16.0

Jim Traynor, Frazier.....34.....518.....15.2

Ryan Webb, Plum.....32.....498.....15.6

Matt Klimczyk, Pine-Richland.....32.....467.....14.6

Cory Diamond, Beaver.....32.....413.....12.9

Brent Heckel, Latrobe.....32.....281.....8.8

Zach Sheridan, Seton-LaSalle.....31.....515.....16.6

A.J. Sherer, Peters Township.....31.....323.....10.4

Brian Grise, Steel Valley.....29.....580.....20.0

Mike Shanahan, Norwin.....29.....571.....19.7

Todd Thomas, Beaver Falls.....29.....486.....16.8

Ryan Forbes, Laurel.....29.....475.....16.4

Linnell Robinson, Union.....29.....287.....9.9

Justin Edwards, Penn-Trafford.....28.....543.....19.4

Nate Wojciechowski, South Allegheny.....28.....434.....15.5

Ian Wild, Baldwin.....28.....374.....13.4

Andrew Strutt, Butler.....28.....229.....8.2

Blake Williamson, Chartiers-Houston.....27.....504.....18.7

Nick Sukay, Greensburg C.C......27.....476.....17.6

Mike DiVella, Peters Township.....27.....371.....13.7

Kevin Mayberry, Seneca Valley.....27.....342.....12.7

Sheldon Loughner, Leechburg.....26.....509.....19.6

Da'Von Moore, Brentwood.....26.....489.....18.8

Jesse Gonzalez, Brentwood.....26.....315.....12.1

Michael Salopek, Norwin.....26.....298.....11.5

Jacques Robinson, Oliver.....25.....475.....19.0