TEAM TO BEAT

Aliquippa: It's tough to choose between Aliquippa and Beaver Falls. It's pretty much a coin flip. Quips' junior quarterback Rasheem Jones threw for 1,524 yards a sophomore. Terry Patrick (612 yards rushing) and offensive lineman Juantez Hollins (Pitt recruit) also return.

CONTENDERS

Beaver Falls: Senior running back/defensive back Todd Thomas (1,261 yards rushing last season) was a Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 pick last season while junior Cody Cook rushed for 722 yards. Kendall Dreher (6-1, 215) is a force at tight end and linebacker, while Chris Elkins, Kevin Neshmith and Andrew Wiltse are returning starters on the line.

Beaver: The Bobcats lost some key skill position players, but six starters return on offense and seven on defense. Jake Nardone rushed for 407 yards.

Center: With the return of more than half of last season's starters, the Trojans are optimistic.

THE OTHERS

Freedom: First-year coach J.C. Summers inherits eight returning starters on offense and 10 on defense. The Bulldogs have size, including Adam Wakefield (6-7, 300), Kurt Hockenberry (6-5, 280) and Ryan Heckman (6-5, 270).

New Brighton: Inexperience permeates the starting lineup, but running back Brandon Mosely averaged 7.9 yards a carry last season.

Riverside: Only a few starters return from last year's team that made the playoffs in the Tri-County North.

Mohawk: Running back Travis Schubert rushed for 524 yards last year for a team that also played in the Tri-County North.

Ellwood City: Don Phillips, who has 22 years of head coaching experience, tries to turn around the Wolverines, who were 0-9 last season.

TEAM TO BEAT

South Fayette: In a conference with no overpowering team, South Fayette should be as good as anyone. The defense, with linebacker Brad Opar, tackle Nick Faraci and defensive backs Cole Valko and Tyler Challengesworth returning as starters, might be the heart of the team after allowing only 84 points last season.

CONTENDERS

Keystone Oaks: This team is good enough to win the conference and be ranked in the top five in Class AA. Senior quarterback Corey Bellovich completed 79 of 164 passes for 1,328 yards last season.

Seton-LaSalle: Six starters return on offense, seven on defense. Linemen Matt Fedor and Mike McConville are two of the top returnees.

Sto-Rox: Junior Paul Jones (6-3, 215) was third in the WPIAL in passing last season (113 of 212 for 1,850 yards) and is getting Division I college looks.

South Park: The Eagles missed the playoffs the past two seasons, but veteran linemen Tony Szalla and Jon Carter make a playoff spot a possibility.

Northgate: The Flames move from the Allegheny Conference and return eight starters on both offense and defense. Quarterback Bill Quinn threw for 880 yards last season.

THE OTHERS

Bishop Canevin: The Crusaders return seven starters on both sides from a 2-7 Class A team.

Steel Valley: Only two starters return on offense and three on defense, but senior Tyrone Ezell (6-5, 260) is one of the best defensive linemen in the state and a Pitt recruit.

Cornell: The Raiders were 1-8 last season, but the return of quarterback Christian Jackson and linebacker Eddie Bretch give reason for hope.

Quaker Valley: The Quakers were 2-7 last year, but senior running back Kortezz Martin (976 yards rushing) makes the Quakers a team to watch.

TEAM TO BEAT

Jeannette: The Jayhawks won't soar as high as the 16-0 team last year, but they are still the favorite to win the conference. Running back Jordan Hall (Ohio State recruit) is versatile enough to also see some plays at quarterback. The offensive line might be the biggest key.

CONTENDERS

Greensburg Central Catholic: Adam Palcic, the quarterback last year, has moved to receiver to make way for Trent Hurley, who transferred from Connellsville last year. Nick Karabin is a standout linebacker.

Mount Pleasant: Only four starters return, but this is a team dropping from Class AAA -- and it won the Keystone Conference title the past two seasons. New coach Bo Ruffner has only 10 seniors on the team, but the Vikings still figure to be near the top of the conference.

East Allegheny: Graduation hit hard, but any team with Monte Ashby must be taken seriously. He rushed for 2,048 yards in 10 games last season.

THE OTHERS

Washington: The Little Prexies are inexperienced but hope to build on a season-ending, five-game winning streak.

Brownsville: J.J. Stoken and Mike Bennett led the team in rushing and tackles last season and could help the Falcons improve on a 1-8 record.

Charleroi: With a slew of returning starters, the Cougars believe they can be vastly improved from the 2-7 team of last season.

South Allegheny: Look who is back coaching! Pat Monroe was 118-51 with two WPIAL titles in 15 years at Duquesne before the school closed in 2007. He takes over a program that hasn't had a winning season since 1993.

Waynesburg: The team was 0-9 a year ago and scored the fewest points (42) in the WPIAL.

TEAM TO BEAT

Ford City: The Sabers have won or tied for first place in four of the past five seasons. The defense allowed 69 points last season and should be solid again. Quarterback Jordan Eckman threw for 16 touchdowns, and Sean Kriley rushed for 700 yards.

CONTENDERS

Valley: The Vikings are certainly good enough to win the conference. Troy Hill is a talented tight end-defensive end and Tracy Booker rushed for 389 yards in one game last season.

Shady Side Academy: The Indians finished second last year. Brian Nickel, Roman San Doval and Billy Nickel were the top three rushers.

Kittanning: With eight starters returning on both sides, the Wildcats expect to challenge for the conference title. Coach Sam Panchik likes his offensive line, and Chris Shepard (6-3, 230) was a first-team all-conference defensive lineman last year.

Apollo-Ridge: The Vikings move up from Class A and feature Derek Bandurak, who gained 1,263 yards. Offensive lineman Gary Thomas was all-conference.

Burrell: Tom Henderson is back for his second stint as coach. He won seven conference titles and one WPIAL in his first 13 years.

THE OTHERS

Freeport: This team is a sleeper, as new coach John Gaillot has seven starters returning on offense and six on defense.

Summit Academy: The Knights move from the Tri-County North to the Allegheny and could end up in the playoff race.

West Shamokin: Eight starters return on both offense and defense, headed by linebackers Ryan Lasher and Dave Ferringer.

Deer Lakes: Making the playoffs for the first time in school history seems out of the question, but being more competitive than 1-8 is the goal.