Roundup of area Division I-AA, Division II and Division III teams.

ALLEGHENY

Coach: Mark Matlak, 6th year (26-25).
2006 result: 6-4
Affiliation: NCAA Division III, North Coast Athletic Conference.
Key players: DB Curt Anderson, WR Jim Lieb, G Andy Fleming, K Josh Whiteside, P Jason Black.
The skinny: The Gators have enough veteran talent to be considered a threat in the conference, but not enough to be a serious contender. The two biggest question marks are at quarterback to replace record-holder Jimmy Savage and at running back, where workhorse Mario Tarquinio will be missed. Fleming is a solid returnee up front and Lieb is a sure-handed wideout. The receiving corps will be bolstered by the return of a healthy James Jones, who had four catches for 94 yards in the opener last year before a broken collarbone ended his season. The strength of the defense is the secondary, led by Anderson, and the Gators will have an edge in the kicking game with Whiteside and Black, both All-league selections.

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BETHANY

Coach: Tim Weaver, 2nd year (4-6).
2006 result: 4-6
Affiliation: NCAA Division III, Presidents' Athletic Conference.
Key players: OL Brian Liptock, WR Matt Cruse, WR Milton Joyner, DB Brandon Zeman, DL John Gyure, TE Mike Elias.
The skinny: With 19 starters back from a team that produced the school's most wins since 6-3 in 2001, The Bison have reason to feel good heading into Weaver's second season. 'Have we turned the corner yet? I don't know, but we have the blinker on,' he said. 'We're headed in the right direction.' What the Bison doesn't have is a tested quarterback to lead them. Junior Matt Blumer, whp passed for 436 yards and 4 TDs in limited action last season, gets the early nod over three incoming freshmen. Joyner (20 catches, 246 yards, 2 TDs) is expected to see spot duty at quarterback. A taste of winning in 2006 has rekindled some excitement in Bison football.

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CALIFORNIA

Coach: John Luckhardt, 6th year (32-21).
2006 result: 8-3.
Affiliation: NCAA Division II, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West.
Key players: WR Nate Forse, DE Kirby Griffin, RB Brandon Lombardy, C Tim McCutcheon, LB Brian Mohr, QB Joe Ruggerio.
The skinny: The Vulcans, co-champion of the West the past two seasons, is deep in talent and inexperience that could take them to the national playoffs for the first time in school history. A defense that allowed a league-low 14.4 points per game returns all the starters, led by All-West first-teamer Griffin and backs Terrance Johnson and Josh Kemp. The offense will have a lot of new people, but returns the league's most productive trio of skilled players -- Lombardy (1,595 yards rushing, 19 TDs), Forse (50 catches, 768 yards receiving, 3 TDs) and Ruggiero (2,118 yards passing, 15 TDs, 65.4 completion) -- and All-American McCutcheon.

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CARNEGIE MELLON

Coach: Rich Lackner, 22nd year (149-60-2).
2006 result: 11-1
Affiliation: NCAA Division III, University Athletic Association.
Key players: RB Travis Sivek, RB Robert Gimson, QB Doug Facemyer, TE Derek Wisnieski, NG Mike Reggie, DB Jon Scholl. The skinny: Coming off their first trip to the playoffs since 1990, the Tartans are in good shape to extend their consecutive streak of non-losing seasons to 33. Sivek (1,326 yards, 14 TDs), the school's all-time rusher with 3,067 yards, and Gimson (1,059 yards, 11 TDs) gave the Tartans two rushers with 1,000 yards in the same backfield for the first time in school history. Running from their traditional Wing-T attack, the Tartans ranked eighth nationally with 260.6 yards rushing per game. They allowed 9.9 points per game to rank sixth nationally and led the country with fewest turnovers with 10 -- 5 interceptions, 5 fumbles.

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CLARION

Coach: Jay Foster, 2nd year (1-10).
2006 result: 1-10.
Affiliation: NCAA Division II, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West.
Key players: TB Eddie Emmanuel, TE, Matt Foradora, QB Tyler Huether, WR Pierre Odom, DL Jimmy Simmons, S Erik Yonish.
The skinny: The Golden Eagles, who have fallen on hard times with five consecutive losing seasons, are in the second year of Foster's rebuilding program. With 15 starters returning there is some reason for optimism, but the Golde Eagles will have to boost their scoring average from an anemic 10.9 points per game in 2006. The key will be the development of Huether, who passed for 755 yards and four TDs as a freshman last season. On the downside, he completed just 38.3 percent of his passes and was intercepted seven times. Emmanuel (967 yards rushing, 3 TDs) provides a consistent running threat. Most of the defensive highlights were produced by Simmons, who was second in the league with 27 tackles for loss.

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EDINBORO

Coach: Scott Browning, 2nd year (6-5).
2006 result: 6-5.
Affiliation NCAA Division II, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West.
Key players: DT Chris Amico, OT Josh Bzorek, FS Tom Davidson, QB Trevor Harris, CB Taurean Valentine, TE Kyle Witucki.
The skinny: The buzz surrounding the Fighting Scots has been generated by Harris, the West rookie of the year last season when he passed for a school-record 2,547 yards and set school records for total offense (2,493 yards), pass attempts (313) and pass completions (192). He threw 20 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions. The top returning receivers are Witucki (31 catches, 455 yards, 5 TDs), Rich Cerro (27 catches, 428 yards, 3 TDs) and Ryan Rybicki (24 catches, 309 yards, 1 TD). The returning headliners from a defense that allowed 70.5 yards rushing per game are Amico, a two-time first-seam All-West performer, and Davidson, a senior whose 14 career interceptions is third most in school history.

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GANNON

Coach: Jim Kiernan, 1st year.
2006 result: 1-10.
Affiliation: NCAA Division II, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Key players: TB Jon Richardson, DL Jake Raymond, LB Rich Lee, C Sean Eperjesi, DB Tomar Pettis.
The skinny: Kiernan, who spent the past eight years as an assistant at Saginaw Valley State, faces a major building job on both sides because he inherits an anemic offense (12.1 ppg) and a porous defense (31.7 ppg). The offense will revolve around the versatile Richardson, who led the team in rushing (235 yards, 3 TDs) and is the top returning receiver (30 catches, 175 yards). The only quarterback on the roster to throw a pass last season is redshirt sophomore Vinnie DeLuca. The other four candidates are freshmen. A tested offensive line will be anchored by Eperjesi and the defense will rely on Raymond, Lee and Pettis.

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GENEVA

Coach: Geno DeMarco, 15th year (95-52-4).
2006 result: 4-5.
Affiliation: NCAA Division III, Presidents' Athletic Conference.
Key players: OL Skyler Freed, WR Luke Duriancik, LB Greg Eberhart, LB Gabe Gordon, FS Derek McElhaney.
The skinny: The Golden Tornadoes will make their debut in the PAC after being successful for years in NAIA, but their games won't count in the league standings because they are a 'provisional member.' They won't become a full-fledged member for at least another year. The program will have another new look this season with home games on the newly installed synthetic surface at Reeves Stadium. Expect the offense to sputter early with a new quarterback (Bobby Bondi) and a new tailback (Javon Moody). Wideouts Duriancik (44 catches, 623 yards, 3 TDs) and Brian Dvorsak (22 catches, 229 yards, 2 TDs) and linemen Antrhony Banks anbd Freed will give the offense some stability. Gordon and Eberhart are the foundations of a veteran defense.

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GROVE CITY

Coach: Chris Smith, 24th year (88-130-2).
2006 result: 3-7.
Affiliation: NCAA Division III, Presidents' Athletic Conference.
Key players: RB Matt Weil, QB Andrew DiDonato, C Matt Gregg, LB Bill Waugh, SS Shane Coughlin.
The skinny: Looking to move up to .500 after three consecutive 3-7 seasons, the Wolverines will feature DiDonato (1,554 yards passing, 13TDs, 6 rushing TDs), who set school records with 151 pass completions and 275 attempts last season as a freshman. Weil (591 yards rushing, 3 TDs), the team's leading ground-gainer the past two seasons, will complement DiDonato's passing. The centerpiece of the line is Gregg, a first-team All-league selection. Waugh, who led the team with 102 tackles that included four sacks and 15 for loss, and Coughlin are the strengths of the defense. The Wolverines will play their first night game at home against Waynesburg, Sept. 22.

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IUP

Coach: Lou Tepper, 2nd year (8-2).
2006 result: 8-2
Affiliation: NCAA Division II, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West.
Key players: WR Anthony Cellitti, LB Terrence Jackson, RB Poohbear McNeal, LB Rob Plowman, CB Mike Reid.
The skinny: The big news is the arrival of three impact transfers from Mansfield, which discontinued its program. McNeal is Mansfield's all-time rusher with 3,960 yards and linemen Josh Miller and Jermaine Smith should bolster the defense. Another newcomer who will help immediately is quarterback Andrew Krewatch, a redshirt last season who passed for 1,714 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman in 2005. The top returning receiver is Cellitti, who led the team with 27 catches for 318 yards and two touchdowns. Plowman is an aggressive hitter who led the PSAC in sacks with nine and ranked 13th nationally with 0.9 per game.

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LOCK HAVEN

Coach: John Klacik, 3rd year (4-18).
2006 result: 2-9
Affiliation: NCAA Division II, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West.
Key players: QB Ilio DiPaolo, DE Jeff eaton, LB Corey Goldea, WR Chris Hawkins, DB Dean Tortorice.
The skinny: Klacik's rebuilding program should begin to show some progress in its third season, with 17 returning starters and a solid incoming freshman class. The Bald Eagles are 54-192 going 5-5 in 1982 that was their most recent non-losing season. The most recent winning season was 6-4 in 1981. The bald Eagles are pinning their hopes for a promising future on DiPaolo, who threw for 1,406 yards and nine touchdowns last season as a freshman. The problem will be finding someone to catch his passes because the top three receivers are gone. A veteran defense must improve upon last season when opponents scored 33.3 points per game.

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MERCYHURST

Coach: Marty Schaetzle, 6th year (16-37).
2006 result: 3-7
Affiliation: NCAA Division II, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Key players: LB, Jimmy Kokrak, LB Bryan Boyce, QB Mitch Phillis, RB Richard Stokes.
The skinny: Schaetzle has a daunting task as he looks for his first winning record with the Lakers, whose biggest flaw last season was the inability to stop the run. To reach .500, they will have to shore of a defense that allowed opponents to rush for 213.1 yards per game with a 5.7 average per carry. The core of the defense will be reliable linebackers Kokrak and Boyce, the two leading tacklers a year ago. The offense will have some punch with Phillis, a two-year starter who completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 1,806 yards and 14 TDs last season, and Stokes (657 yards rushing, 8 TDs; 20 catches, 225 yards, 1 TD).

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SAINT FRANCIS

Coach: Dave Opfar, 6th year (12-41).
2006 result: 3-8
Affiliation: NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Northeast Conference.
Key players: RB Anthony Richards, WR Antoine Rivera, OL Alexander Szoke-Benton, LB Louis Beninato, DE Fehi Sevelo, S Andrew Ardestani.
The skinny: The Red Flash are counting on a defense that returns 10 starters to carry the load because the offense has lost the school's all-time passer, all-time rusher and top two all-time receivers. Unfortunately, those defenders allowed 36.2 points per game last season. The offense won't be as pass-happy as in recent seasons with new quarterback George Little, a redshirt sophomore who will run some option and scramble rather than live in the pocket. Richards (455 yards rushing, 6.9 average per carry, 2 TDs) and Calvin Williams, who moves from cornerback, will provide depth at running back. Ardestani (team-high 82 tackles) and Sevelo (team-high 5 sacks) key the defense.

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SAINT VINCENT

Coach: Bob Colbert, 1st year.
2006 result: DNP
Affiliation: NCAA Division III, Presidents' Athletic Conference.
Key players: WR Robert James, TE Jake Gabelt, RB Lloyd Burns, DL Garrett Hazlett, DB Brian Smith, LB Kyle Knepshield.
The skinny: The Bearcats, playing football after a 45-year hiatus, are in the PAC but their games won't count in the standings because they are a 'provisional member' of the league for at least another year. They will play their home games at newly constructed Chuck Noll Field on campus. Colbert' older brother, Kevin, is the director of football operations for the Steelers. Colbert was the associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Bridgewater (Va.) College for six seasons prior to being hired in 2006 to put together the program from scratch. Saint Vincent, which discontinued the program after going 1-6 in 1962, has a 155-118-26 record in 37 years of football.

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SETON HILL

Coach: Chris Snyder, 3rd year (3-19).
2006 result: 2-9.
Affiliation: NCAA Division II, West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Key players: LB Mark Hartz, LB Rob Ellis, OL A.J. Erni, QB Matt Dowdell, TB Antwarn Jones, WR Derek Thompson.
The skinny: After two years of on-the-job training, the battle-tested Griffins are hoping to be competitive in their first season as a full-time member of the WVIAC. Much of the optimism is based on the return of Dowdell, who missed the remainder of the season after injuring his knee early in the opener, and Jones, who rushed for 902 yards and six TDs as a freshman despite missing two games with an ankle injury. Last year's starting QB, Garyn Ehrilch, left the program. Linebackers Hartz and Ellis and back Andrew DeMase and a strong secondary will spearhead the defense.

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SHIPPENSBURG

Coach: Rocky Rees, 18th year (102-86-1).
2006 result: 5-6.
Affiliation: NCAA Division II, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West.
Key players: DB Jonathan Aldridge, DB Howard Chavous, FB Aaron Dykes, P Kyler Ford, LB Jaron Nalewak, K Jamie Reder.
The skinny: The Red Raiders have the most productive kicking game in the league, with Ford, who ranked 20th nationally with a 39.7 average per game last season and Reder, who has made 34 of 44 career field goal attempts (79.5 percent) and has a chance to better the D-II career record of 80 percent set by Clarion's Bill May in 1977-80. Chavous is a threat every time he touches the ball, with 26 catches for 303 yards and a 28.9 average on 16 kickoff returns. Nalewak's 23 tackles for loss ranked 15th nationally and was one shy of the school season record. Dykes, a two-time All-PSAC West second team selection rushed for 514 yards and 6 TDs last season.

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SLIPPERY ROCK

Coach: George Mihalik, 20th year, (127-77-4).
2006 result: 7-4.
Affiliation: NCAA Division II, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West.
Key players: OT Mike Butterworth, WR Paul Favers, DE Clint Forsha, DT Cory Lacek, OG Bron Clauser.
The skinny: The Rock is ready to roll with nine starters back on offense and eight on defense from a 7-4 team. The offense will be led by quarterback Nate Crookshank (2,080 yards passing, 19 TDs, 61.6 petrcentage completion), a host of crunching running backs and a veteran line anchored by Clauser and Butterworth. The premier defenders are linebacker Jared Palmer, last year's leading tackler with 87, Lacek, a first-team All-PSAC West performer the past two years, and Forsha. If either California and IUP slip just a tiny bit, Slippery Rock has what it takes to win the wild West and possibly reach the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

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THIEL

Coach: Jack Leipheimer, 7th year (31-31).
2006 result: 5-5.
Affiliation: NCAA Division III, Presidents' Athletic Conference.
Key players: RB Steve Minton, WR Marc LaSola, OL Jimmy Fawcett, DL Chris Lorber, K/P Sammy Koyl.
The skinny: The Tomcats got an early jump on the season with a trip to Toronto this spring where they found a quarterback in sophomore Willie Bova, who completed 12 of 17 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-7 victory against the University of Toronto. His favorite target will be LaSola (43 catches, 421 yards, 7 TDs). The heart of the offense will again be Minton, the school's all-time leader with 2,570 yards rushing and 32 touchdowns. The stalwarts from a defense that allowed just 16.1 points per game are ends Robert Hughes and Lorber and linebacker Mike Stimac.

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WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON

Coach: Mike Sirianni, 5th year (40-7).
2006 result: 10-2.
Affiliation: NCAA Division III, Presidents' Athletic Conference.
Key players: QB Bobby Swallow, G Matt Houy, WR Tom McCafferty, LB David Gitlitz, C Dave Bucar.
The skinny: Although the Presidents lost a host of All-league performers, they remain the team to beat thanks to Swallow (2,032 yards passing, 20 TDs, 69 percent completion), McCafferty (39 catches, 529 yards, 7 TDs) and a stout defense whose speed and athleticism should compensate for a lack of experience. If Sirianni sticks with a ball-control offense that helped the Presidents reach the second round of the playoffs, Kevin Matthews (388 yards rushing, 5.5 per carry average, 1 TD) will be thrust into a more prominent role to replace Ryan Mendel. The defense will revolve around Gitlitz, called by Sirianni 'Our best overall football player.'

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WAYNESBURG

Coach: Rick Shepas, 3rd year (10-10).
2006 result: 6-4.
Affiliation: NCAA Division III, Presidents' Athletic Conference.
Key players: DE Mike Czerwien, LB Brendon Steele, G Alex Tempalski, DE D.J. DeWitt, S Stefon Strothers.
The skinny: The loss of 93 percent of its total offense last season will put the burden on a veteran defense to keep the Yellow Jackets competitive until a new quarterback and running back step up. The leading candidate at quarterback is junior Chris Smithley, who completed 15 of 37 passes for 181 yards and five interceptions in five appearances a year ago. An experienced offensive line will feature Tempalski, a two-year starter. All three starters from a defensive front that accounted for 19 of a conference-high 25 sacks return, led by Czerwien, an All-American candidate who led the PAC with 11 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss.

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WEST LIBERTY

Coach: Roger Waialae, 3rd year (13-9).
2006 result: 7-4
Affiliation: NCAA Division II, West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Key players: WR Almonzo Banks, DE Kevin Dixon, DB Darren Banks, RB Eddie Hills.
The skinny: Waialae's Hilltoppers were 6-5 and 7-4 his first two seasons and have 17 returning starters who could make them a challenger to three-time defending league champion Shepherd. The big hole to fill is at quarterback, where Jay Gullion passed for 2,811 yards and 22 TDs last season. The Hilltoppers have two big-play guys in Banks (67 catches, 977 yards, 8 TDs) and Hills (1,105 yards rushing). The marquee players on defense are Dixon, who had 13 sacks and tied for the conference lead with 27 tackles for loss, and Banks, who ranked second nationally with 10 interceptions.

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WESTMINSTER

Coach: Jeff Hand, 3rd year (6-14).
2006 result: 2-8.
Affiliation: NCAA Division III, Presidents' Athletic Conference.
Key players: QB Kevin Franz, RB Nick McKolosky, WR Brett Ziegler, LB Jordan Blinn, S Jake Wilczynski.
The skinny: The 2000s have not been kind to the Titans, whose 34-35 record is a far cry from the glory decades of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s when they won six NAIA Division II national championships and were runnerups twice. The freshmen and sophomores who struggled the past two seasons are older and wiser and might be ready to do a little winning. Franz (2,090 yards passing, 12 TDs, 66 percent completion) was the school's first freshman to start a season-opener at quarterback since 1967. Ziegler (55 catches, 580 yards, 5 TDs) is an explosive threat and all five linemen return up front. Blinn, whose 10.8 tackles per game was second-best in the league, heads the defense.

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YOUNGSTOWN STATE

Coach: Jon Heacock, 7th year (43-27).
2006 result: 11-3.
Affiliation: NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Gateway Conference.
Key players: LB James Terry, QB Tom Zetts, G Brad Samsa, DT Mychal Savage, TE Derrick Bush.
The skinny: The two-time conference champion Penguins are a veteran outfit with 13 fifth-year players. A high-octane offense that scored 31.4 points per game last season will again be directed by Zetts (2,086 yards passing, 14 TDs, 334 yards rushing, 4 TDs), who will rank high on nearly all of the school's passing lists after this season. Terry and Savage are returning first-team All-conference selections who form the nucleus of what should be a hard-hitting defense that will be strengthened by the return of LB Jeremiah Wright, who sat out 2006 with a medical redshirt. Wright was second-team All-conference in 2004.