California University and IUP are sure to be mentioned in any discussion of the top NCAA Division II teams in Western Pennsylvania. Edinboro and Slippery Rock might also slip into the conversation.

Seton Hill? Isn't that an all-women's school in Greensburg?

Nope.

Seton Hill went co-ed in 2002 and has fielded a football team since 2005. Because the Griffins compete in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference instead of the more familiar Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference they have flown under the area's small college football radar.

They finished 10-3 last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs where they lost to California. This year they are ranked in the top 25 in Division II in two preseason football magazines.

The new kids on the block are starting to make some noise.

Seton Hill opens its season at 6 p.m. Saturday at Offutt Field in Greensburg against Virginia-Wise, a NAIA school ranked No. 21. It is one of six games involving area teams the first weekend of the college season. The schedule kicks off tonight with California University entertaining Saginaw Valley State and Clarion playing at Fairmont State, and continues tomorrow with IUP at Southern Connecticut State.

The Griffins are ranked No. 21 in The Sporting News College Football '09 magazine and 23rd in Lindy's. They also received votes in the D2Football.com poll, but did not crack the top 25.

"Are we ranked?" Seton Hill coach Joel Dolinski asked in mock disgust. "I don't like all the hype. I'd prefer it if people pay no attention to us."

The reason for the little bit of hype is the Griffins' 2008 record and the fact they have six starters returning from a high-powered offense along with seven other key role players. Defensively, five starters return. The two big-play guys on offense are returner/receiver Sammy Tranks and running back Antwarn Jones.

Tranks, a senior from Martin Luther King High in Philadelphia, averaged 24.3 yards per punt return and caught 63 passes for 826 yards. He scored 12 touchdowns, five on returns, and has gained the attention of NFL scouts.

Jones, a Baltimore resident, rushed for 1,323 yards and scored a school-record 15 touchdowns last season. He is the Griffins all-time leading rusher with 3,501 yards.

A player who wasn't at Seton Hill last season might be the one to take the Griffins to the next level. He is quarterback D.J. Lenehan, a transfer from Toledo.

Lenehan guided Wilson Area to the PIAA Class AA title in 2006, beating Jeannette in the final. He is the second-leading passer in Pennsylvania high school history with 7,765 yards. As a freshman at Toledo, he threw for 630 yards and four scores in six games but decided to transfer after the Rockets changed coaches.

Butler High grad Nick Monteleone, a junior, will probably start at quarterback for the Griffins, but Lenehan is challenging.

"D.J. has been playing catchup because he came in late and is still learning the offense," said Dolinski, who is in his second season as head coach. "Nick, who is also pretty good, is the starter but that could change tomorrow."

Offense is Seton Hill's strength and Tranks makes the special teams special. The defense is young, especially in the secondary, but the linebacking corps is talented and deep.

Dolinski said his biggest job, at least early this season, will be keeping his players from living on past accomplishments.

"Honest, I don't look at what we did last year. It's over," he said. "I don't put a whole lot of stock in last year. We're more concerned about what we can do this year."

• Saginaw Valley State at California, 7 p.m. today -- The Vulcans, 12-2 last year, open the season ranked No. 9 in the D2Football.com preseason poll. Tonight's game will be the debut of quarterback Josh Portis, a transfer from Maryland, in a California uniform. Running backs Windell Brown (593 yards on 93 attempts, 7 TDs) and Fred Bacco (376, 63, 6 TDs) return. Coach John Luckhardt is 6-1 in season openers at California.

• IUP at Southern Connecticut State, 4 p.m. tomorrow -- This game has the potential to be a high-scoring affair. IUP, 8-2 last season and ranked No. 22 by D2Football.com, has quarterback Andrew Krewatch. He leads an offense that averaged 38.5 points per game in 2008. Southern Connecticut State averaged 33.8 points per game.

• Bowie State at Slippery Rock, 7 p.m. Saturday -- The Rock, 5-6 last season, has two talented offensive starters returning. Running back Ryan Lehmeier gained 905 yards on 158 carries and scored 10 touchdowns, and quarterback Brandon Frohnapple completed 90 of 192 passes for 964 yards.