Neil Tkatch is quite familiar with the members of the Ambridge Area High School football team, despite the fact that he spent the past eight years as an assistant coach at South Side Beaver.

"I've been a guidance counselor at Ambridge for the past 13 years," said Tkatch, who will make his head coaching debut at Ambridge this season. "I'm very familiar with all the players, so the transition has been relatively easy.

Tkatch takes over for Don Yannessa, who retired after leading the Bridgers to a 25-35 record in six seasons. Yannessa retired from coaching with a remarkable 249-137-7 record in 37 seasons, including tenures at Aliquippa and Baldwin before he finished at Ambridge.

"I was hired in early December, so I've had plenty of time to put together a staff and start a conditioning program," said Tkatch, who is also an Ambridge alumnus and resident. "The response I've received from the administration and fans has been great thus far."

Ambridge posted a 2-8 record last year and finished sixth in the Parkway Conference with a 1-5 record. Eleven starters return from last year's squad, including four two-way seniors, quarterback/safety Zach Nichi (6-3, 190), split end/cornerback Devay Owens (5-11, 170), guard/defensive tackle Rob Kingersi (6-1, 240) and tackle/defensive end Sean Kincaid (6-4, 245).

Nichi completed 89 of 193 passes for 1,439 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, and rushed for 135 yards on 69 carries, which includes yardage lost on sacks. Nichi's favorite target, wide receiver Colby Addis (6-2, 180), is also back. Addis caught 31 passes for 620 yards.

The other returning starters are linebackers Brent Sutton (6-1, 215) and Mike Fitzpatrick (5-10, 180).

"I'm installing the spread option," said Tkatch, who will also serve as offensive coordinator. "It's a good fit for this team. We have the athletes and speed to make it work."

Fitzpatrick will also see time in the offensive backfield as a fullback. Others expected to see significant playing time in the offensive backfield are Joe Savage (5-9, 160), Tim Reynolds (5-10, 175), Travis Dlubak (5-9, 185) and Marvin Shepherd (5-10, 205).

"We have 46 players with approximately 25 who have the ability and talent to play varsity," Tkatch said. "We also have 30 players on our freshman team. It's the first time in three or four years that we've had a ninth-grade team."

The Cougars have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs 15 of the past 18 years, and have finished among the top four teams in Class AAA 12 times during that span. Blackhawk tied with New Castle for the Parkway Conference title last season and advanced to the WPIAL title game before losing to three-time champion Thomas Jefferson.

"The Parkway Conference, from top to bottom, has been the strongest conference in Class AAA," said Blackhawk coach Joe Hamilton. "This year should be no different."

Blackhawk was hit hard by graduation losses, as all but eight starters have graduated. Only three starters return from an offense that averaged 34.5 points per game. Quarterback Zack Hayward has graduated after throwing for 2,896 yards and 36 touchdowns over the past two years. Tailback Bryan Stefanik (2,308 yards in two seasons) and Jake Delmonico (55 receptions last year) are also gone.

"We lost all of our skilled people on offense," Hamilton said. "We should be solid on defense. The defense will have to carry us until our offense matures."

The only returning starters on offense are linemen, tackles Dan Graham (5-11, 245) and Zach Thayer (6-0, 230) and guard Justin Schlotter (5-10, 235).

The starters returning on defense are safety Chuck Lipp (6-0, 175), cornerback Caleb Mancini (5-10, 175), end Mike Mazza (5-11, 195) and linebackers Zach Morrow (5-9, 200), Christian Mulig (5-11, 180) and Eric Richardson (5-11, 200).

"Mancini suffered a broken elbow in the second game of last season, but returned to play special teams in the playoffs," Hamilton said.

"Mulig and Mancini will be the seniors in our offensive backfield."

The Vikings placed third in the Parkway Conference and advanced to the WPIAL semifinals before dropping a 35-16 decision to three-time champion Thomas Jefferson. Coach Dave Vestal has 12 starters returning from last year's squad, which posted an 8-3 record.

"We're not real big up front, but we do have good speed," Vestal said. "We have to execute on offense and play solid defense. If we can do that, and stay away from injuries, we should be a legitimate contenders for the conference title."

Six starters are back on offense, including sophomore tailback Rushel Shell (5-11, 210), who rushed for 1,516 yards and 13 touchdowns on 181 carries during his freshman debut.

"We thought Rushel could be a special player, but didn't expect him to mature as quickly as he did," Vestal said.

"Every time Rushel touches the ball, he's a threat to score."

Also back on offense are wide receiver Mark Ross (6-3, 175), tight end Dayne Smith (6-3, 200), tackle Jeremy Martini (6-0, 245) and guards Brandon Fedorka (6-2, 210) and Tyler Hightower (6-3, 220). Ross led Hopewell with 24 catches and 450 yards. Smith caught eight passes for 146 yards.

"Matt Hundenski (5-10, 175) has taken over at quarterback," Vestal said. "Matt is a tough competitor who has done a fine job in passing scrimmages during the summer."

Hightower and Fedorka are also returning starters on the defensive line. Smith is back at linebacker and Hundenski returns in the defensive backfield.

The other two defensive returnees are linebacker Brendan Taylor (6-0, 200) and defensive back Ryan Costanza (5-7, 160).

The Spartans earned their second consecutive WPIAL playoff appearance by placing third in the Parkway Conference with a 5-2 record. Montour finished the season with a 6-5 record after dropping a tough 35-34 decision to Highlands in the WPIAL quarterfinals.

"We have some good experience coming back and our line will be the biggest we've had in a long time," Spartans coach Lou Cerro said. "It may take a couple weeks to find a replacement for [quarterback] E.J. Banks."

Banks, a Notre Dame recruit, threw for 2,247 yards and ran for 1,904 yards during the past two seasons. Bank's favorite target, cousin Milton Banks, has also graduated after catching 25 passes last season.

"Senior Josh Bryan (5-10, 170) played when E.J. was hurt last season, so he does have limited varsity experience," Cerro said. "Sophomores Dillon Buechel (6-3, 160) and Tyler Haas (6-3, 140) are also vying for the quarterback spot."

Montour has six starters returning on each side of the ball, including four offensive linemen, George Beerhalter (6-4, 255), Austin Heter (6-5, 250), Dan McMurtrie (6-0, 215) and Jon Koritsky (6-1, 240).

The other two offensive returnees are running back Phil Peckich (5-11, 185) and wide receiver Nick McCune (5-9, 175). Peckich is a four-year starter at defensive end and a two-year starter at running back. He rushed for 668 yards on 109 carries last season.

Other starters back on defense are linebackers Derek Schneider (5-9, 180) and Evan Pass (5-10, 175), lineman Josh Babjack (5-10, 270) and defensive back Aaron McGee (6-0, 180).

The Indians saw a streak of 11 consecutive WPIAL playoff appearances come to an end last year. They tied for fourth place in the Parkway Conference, but a loss to Montour kept them out of the playoffs.

"I'm glad last season is over," said Indians coach Bob Palko, who enters his 15th season. "We lost six players to injuries, two with ACLs and four who needed thumb surgery. I've never had that many [serious] injuries before."

Quarterback Jared Buck (6-3, 185) missed the second half of the season with an ACL tear. Aaron McKinney (5-10, 175) replaced Buck during the second half. Both are returning starters for Palko.

"Aaron will most likely move to running back," Palko said. "He did a nice job filling in for Buck, but we can't have both at quarterback. Both are good enough to be starters."

Flanker Mike Hutton (5-9, 175) sustained an ACL injury in week one and missed the rest of the season. He returns in the backfield along with the fullback rotation of Troy Reaghard (5-8, 165) and C.J. Revtai (6-1, 225).

Other starters back on offense are: wide receiver Ben Simmen (6-3, 175), linemen Tim Johnson (6-2, 280), Alex Zupanovich (5-10, 265), and Nate Bell (6-2, 230), and punter/placekicker Aaron Fleck (6-0, 175). Bell was a tight end last year.

"We should be solid on both offense and defense, but depth is an issue," Palko said. "We can't afford another injury-filled season."

Six starters are back on defense, Johnson and Bell on the line, Revtai and Reaghard at linebacker, and Hutton and Matt Kovach (5-8, 165) in the backfield.

Jon Miller faces an unenviable task with his head coaching debut at Moon.

He replaces Mark Capuano, who stepped down after compiling a 143-108 record in 24 seasons. Capuano was one of the most respected head coaches in the WPIAL, but the Tigers struggled in his final two seasons, winning only one of 20 games.

Miller has been an assistant coach the past 11 years. His coaching career began in 1998 with one year at Erie McDowell, and a four-year stint at Canon-McMillan. The past six years, Miller served as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Upper St. Clair.

"In my freshman year at Gannon University, I set a goal of becoming a coordinator at Upper St. Clair," said Miller, a Peters Township graduate. "I've reached that goal. My next goal was to become a head varsity coach. That goal will become reality when we play in our season opener."

Miller was hired in December and had his staff together by the start of March.

"We watched [Moon's conference opponents] on film, but wasn't sure how to react," said Miller, who has little knowledge of the Parkway Conference. "We're still trying to find the best position for everybody. That's never easy when you're dealing with a group of kids for the first time."

Miller isn't completely familiar with Moon's roster, but did find five returnees with significant experience, wide receiver/safety Vince Colaianni (6-0, 190), running back/cornerback Mark Piccolo, fullback/linebacker Mike Kelly, cornerback Chad Bertrand (5-7, 160) and defensive tackle Ben Jeannot (6-3, 230).

"It's a real challenge to face the quality coaches in the Parkway Conference," Miller said. "I'm not sure how to react at this point to the progress we are making. But I like the kids attitude."

The Colts have made six consecutive WPIAL playoff appearances. They placed second in the Big Seven Conference last year and finished the season with a 7-3 record after losing to Mars, 15-6, in the first round of the playoffs.

"We have a good nucleus of starters returning from last year's squad," Colts coach Chris Saluga said. "They will provide the leadership our younger kids need. Our goal every year is to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs, and this team has the talent required to reach that goal."

Saluga has six starters returning on each side of the ball, including three two-way starters, running back/cornerback Beau Carson (6-0, 175), center/defensive tackle Cory Rekasie (6-2, 255) and guard/defensive tackle Dylan Croftcheck (6-0, 215).

Carson rushed for 439 yards on 68 carries and led the Colts with 22 receptions and 334 yards.

The other three returning starters on offense are quarterback Wayne Capers Jr. (6-1, 175), wingback Sean Lapsevic (5-7, 165) and split end Rob LaMonde (5-9, 170). Capers completed 26 of 48 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns in three starts.

"Wayne was a receiver until week seven, when [quarterback] Santino Coury suffered a season-ending injury," Saluga said. "We thought about using an older kid because Wayne was only a freshman, but we figured he was the quarterback of the future. Wayne stepped in and did a fine job."

The other three returning starters on defense are linebackers Zack Mulvihill (5-11, 175) and Chris Barrett (6-1, 205) and end Tyler Wilps (5-10, 175).

"Our biggest concern on offense is to replace three linemen," Saluga said. "Our biggest concern on defense is filling holes in the defensive backfield."