With two of last season's offensive catalysts having graduated, the pervasive question surrounding the McKeesport Area football team is a no-brainer: Who will be running the vaunted flexbone offense now?

The Tigers annually give opponents fits with their triple-option, flexbone attack, and the reins of this year's offense will be handled by a pair of players.

McKeesport coach George Smith said his team will go with a two-quarterback rotation consisting of senior Parris Perdue (6-1, 165) and junior Julian Brown (5-5, 160).

"They're coming along," Smith said. "They're pretty identical as far as cadence goes."

They'll get plenty of support from senior fullback Nico Price (5-11, 235), who rushed for 963 yards and 12 touchdowns a season ago. Also seeing plenty of action will be senior wingback Gabe Patterson (5-7, 170) and junior fullback Darian Robinson (6-0, 205).

Senior two-way tackle Dana Brown (6-1, 265) leads the way up front. Brown already holds several Division I offers, including Miami (Ohio) and Kent State. He'll be joined on the lines by seniors Carlos Brown (6-2, 235) and Eddie Gooden (5-9, 235).

The Tigers, who will compete in the Foothills Conference, will open the season against Ohio power Colerain in the Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

With one set of standout players departed, another group steps in for an Upper St. Clair program which reloads as well as any.

"We're experienced in some areas and inexperienced in others," said Panthers coach Jim Render.

The Panthers will be strong on the offensive line as both tackles return -- seniors David Kubera (6-3, 275) and Alex Smith (6-0, 250). Another key cog in that line is senior center Justin Cross (5-11, 255).

Those three will attempt to spring holes for a running game that features senior tailback Reed Apfelbaum (6-2, 195) and senior fullback Steve Lias (6-2, 205).

Battling it out for the quarterback job are senior Mike Shogry (5-10, 180) and junior Alex Park (6-1, 190). Render said both are strong-armed, with Park being more of a running threat.

Said Render, "I think we'll be able to mix it up pretty well with running and passing."

The Panthers have advanced to the WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinals five years in a row. They finished 7-4 last season, falling to Gateway in the quarterfinals, 32-20.

Few schools return as many major skill-position players as Bethel Park, and those veteran standouts may be enough to get the Black Hawks even further than last season, when they advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals.

The Black Hawks boast a "big three" consisting of senior quarterback Erik Olson (6-3, 205), senior running back Lyle Marsh (6-1, 215) and senior wide receiver John Schademan (6-0, 190).

All three were terrific as juniors. Olson passed for 1,438 yards, 12 touchdowns and just one interception, Marsh galloped for 971 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Schademan hauled in 26 passes for 497 yards and eight touchdowns.

"We've got some playmakers," said Black Hawks coach Jeff Metheny. "It seems like if we can just develop some linemen and get some experience in non-conference play, we can have a decent season."

Hoping to pave the way for their playmaking teammates is a line anchored by senior tight end/nose tackle Brian Vukela (6-2, 215), senior guard/defensive tackle Mitch Hakeem (6-1, 230) and junior center Adam Lazenga (6-0, 230).

Another player to watch is senior Rock Vomer (5-10, 210), a chiseled fullback/linebacker.

It'll be a year of change for the Indians, who make the leap to Class AAAA after spending the previous six seasons in Triple-A. The switch will no doubt provide a more neighborly atmosphere for the Indians, who look to make their first trip to the postseason in five years.

The biggest change, however, may be at quarterback, where sophomore Austin Hancock (6-2, 210) takes over for Tyler Porco, a four-year starter. Hancock is very highly regarded, and also started on the Indians WPIAL championship baseball team as a freshman.

Peters Township returns five starters on offense, including senior running back Brady Ashe, who ran for 385 yards and four touchdowns last season, and junior wide receiver Brandon Hoffman.

Defense could be the Indians strong point, though, with six returning starters. The linebacking corps should be excellent, as seniors Jack Hareza, Tyler Sheetz and Matt Kinavey all are back.

"We are looking to improve our program in all areas," said second-year coach Nick Milchovich. "We will have a young nucleus of players who will improve from week to week."

A late-season slump caused the Blue Devils to fall short of the playoffs last season, but the sour taste that was left in their mouths has pushed them to sweeter play a year later.

"We emphasized that we need to work a little harder and it's paid off," Mt. Lebanon coach Chris Haering said. "They've really come together as a group."

A pair of senior linemen are among the Blue Devils top returning starters, guard Vince Cantelm (6-2, 220) and tackle Jed Cox (6-3, 280). Also back is senior H-back Julian Valdiserri (6-4, 190) who caught 14 passes last season.

The Blue Devils are also set at quarterback, where senior Andrew Cappucci (6-1, 175) begins his second year as a starter. As a junior, Cappucci passed for 617 yards and three touchdowns.

"He's done a lot of work in the offseason on his body and arm strength, and it's paid off," Haering said. "He's had a good camp and has really become a strong leader."

Asked to appraise his team, Baldwin coach Dan Pallante was short but to the point: "We're talented but very young."

That assessment probably couldn't be any more accurate, as the Highlanders return just a handful of starters. And while many of the players positioned to play key roles for this team aren't very experienced, their upside is great.

At the forefront of what the Highlanders hope will return them to the playoffs for the first time since 2005 is an offensive backfield of junior fullback/linebacker Quinn Hood (5-9 205) and junior quarterback Jordan Joyce (5-10, 165). Hood rushed for 513 yards and five touchdowns last season, while Joyce replaces his brother, Jeff, who had started the previous two seasons.

Among the other players expected to contribute from a strong junior class are center/linebacker Ron Harris (6-2, 230) and guard/defensive tackle Rob Keller (5-10, 270).

Tight end/defensive end Cory Nolton (6-3, 235) is the Highlanders' lone returning senior starter.

After winning three of their first five games a year ago, which included wins over Upper St. Clair and Seneca Valley, the Highlanders stumbled down the stretch, losing their final four games to finish 3-6.