TEAM TO BEAT:

Aliquippa: The Quips, No. 2 in Class AA, feature WR-DE Jonathan Baldwin, one of the top players in the country. RB Daron Cox (785 yards last year), WR Jamar Anderson, and linemen Will Dawkins and Courtney Alston are other top players. Maurice Carter was a 1,000-yard rusher last year at Center.

CONTENDERS:

Beaver Falls: Ten returning starters on offense and nine on defense include RB-DB Todd Thomas, who had more than 1,000 yards of offense last year.

Beaver: The Bobcats have seven returning starters on offense, eight on defense. QB Manny Cutlip, RB Alex George and WR Cory Diamond help make the Bobcats strong.

Center: LB Kevin Kosmal and DB Matt LaValle were first-team all-conference last year.

Sto-Rox: Some key players graduated, but Isaiah Scott and Nico DiMichele were the second- and third-leading receivers last year.

THE OTHERS:

New Brighton: New coach Mitch Carver has 21 seniors on the team. Eric Walker showed promised at RB a year ago.

Quaker Valley: Junior Kortezz Martin led the team in rushing last year. Fifteen other lettermen return.

Freedom: The Bulldogs could start as many as six sophomores, but QB Shawn Lehocky is in his third season as a starter.

Ellwood City: New coach Frank Colao has only four returning starters.

-- By Mike White