After a winless 2007 campaign, the 500-win milestone is still out there for a once-proud Wilkinsburg High School football program.

In the past four seasons Wilkinsburg has averaged a win a season but coach Cliff Simon, a former player at the school, a coach in the early 1990s and current athletic director who is in the third year of his second stint as the head coach, welcomes six starters back on offense and defense and is looking for improvement this year.

Senior running back Chris Evans (5-10, 175), junior running back Jacob Wilkes (5-10, 170) and junior fullback Adam Linder (5-10, 170) will lead the backfield for the Tigers behind junior quarterback Eugene Butler (6-0, 170), a first-time starter.

Last year's team captain and offensive leader, Shaliek Garland, has graduated and in his place are senior wide receiver Donald Haselrig (6-0, 165) and senior tight end Nate Shelton (5-11, 185). Along the offensive line are senior guard Jason Hundley (6-0, 190), senior tackle Paris Poindexter (6-5, 225) and junior center Brandon Hall (5-11, 165).

"The offensive line play is the biggest question," Simon said. "We have to run the ball and we need a line to run the ball. We have some kids there already and we are working in some other kids. I think we will be OK.

"We have to play good defense and work with field position. When we do get the ball, we need to play ball control. We have to be methodical and get first downs."

Defensively, the biggest player to replace is second-team all-conference defensive end Chris Hairston. Shelton, Hall and junior Bareta Bey will all see time at linebacker in the 3-5 defense. Evans, Wilkes, Linder, Butler and Haselrig will start in the secondary. Wilkes is also the team's place-kicker.

The Riverview offense has been set up to rely on the running game this year.

The Raiders return a few linemen, have a senior at fullback, Nick Buchser, and have converted All-Eastern Conference wide receiver Jeff Scampone into their feature tailback.

They have to replace a backfield that lost fullback Josh Dezort, tailback Adam Lohr and quarterback Jared Soell. As a team the Raiders only return four starters on both offense and defense.

Riverview has more freshmen on its roster, 18, than seniors and juniors combined, 16. Second-year head coach Todd Massack hopes some of those freshmen can work their way into special teams or backup roles.

After not seeing a single varsity snap last year, sophomore Terrell Craighead (5-11, 155) will take over at quarterback.

"He is really matured from his freshman year and he has really developed and grown physically," Massack said.

"He is doing everything we have asked him to do. Terrell has been to all of our workouts and he is starting to understand our offense. He has a strong arm and decent feet, we are excited about him."

Senior center Tony Hoffman (6-1, 205) will lead the offensive line alongside returning senior starters Tom Skemp (6-0, 225) and Brandon Streussnig (5-11, 220).

The offensive backfield of Scampone and Buchser will also play alongside each other defensively, both starting at inside linebacker. Junior Tom O'Leary (6-0, 180) and sophomores Brandon Seachrist (6-1, 165) and Anthony Munion (5-11, 160) could also see time at linebacker in the base 4-4 defense.

For the first time in Rich Bowen's 18-year coaching career he will have to replace an entire offensive line not to mention having to replace two all-state skill players at running back and wide receiver.

Nonetheless, expectations remain high at Serra Catholic, the defending WPIAL Class A champions and PIAA runners-up.

The Eagles will look to all-conference returning quarterback T.J. Heatherington (5-10, 160) and his brother ,wide receiver Rob Heatherington (5-10, 155), to keep the Eagles offense potent. T.J. Heatherington threw 14 touchdown passes last year to only four interceptions and rushed for 1,392 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Juniors Neal McFarland (6-0, 170) and Josh Moody, a McKeesport transfer, (5-10, 190), will take over at running back for first team all-state Isaiah Jackson, who graduated. Bowen expects Moody to also step in at linebacker.

Another transfer, Clayton Mains, from East Allegheny, is expected to start at slot receiver where Chris Loving was a standout last season.

Along with Rob Heatherington, Randall Coleman (6-0, 170) is a returning starter at wide out. Defensively, Bowen expects a big year from senior defensive tackle Ed Pietirzak (6-0, 230). Evan Sargo (6-2, 270) and Kyle Holin (6-2, 285), both juniors, will fill in along the offensive and defensive lines.

"We were so spoiled last year with all the weapons and this year we are going to have to be more of a patient offense," Bowen said.

"We are hoping to grind out 10- or 11-play drives. We need to play ball control. We still expect to win games and our confidence level is high."