Last November, Greensburg Central Catholic won its first WPIAL championship when the Centurions defeated Aliquippa.

It wouldn't be too much of a surprise if the same two teams play for the title again this season.

Greensburg Central Catholic and Aliquippa are among the favorites to capture the Class AA crown, but a talented field of competitors that includes South Fayette and Keystone Oaks are in the conversation, as well.

The Centurions have one of the best lines in the WPIAL, regardless of class, headed by veteran guards Pat Mahoney and Bernie Sarra.

The Quips will showcase a fine running back tandem in Ben Cobb and Darius Walker, and also bring back quarterback Mikal Hall.

South Fayette -- the No. 1 seed in last year's playoffs -- is also loaded, particularly at the skill positions, where quarterback Christian Brumbaugh and running back Jeff Davis return.

Keystone Oaks could run their way to a title as they bring back a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Matt McCann and Jordan Maddox.

Here's a look at Class AA teams in the PG South circulation area:

Quite possibly, there isn't a team in the entire WPIAL that returns as much offensive firepower as South Fayette.

Considering the Lions went undefeated in Century Conference play last season, the possibilities of how good they'll be this season is scary.

The return of quarterback Christian Brumbaugh (6-3, 195, sr.) is enough of a reason for optimism in itself. Brumbaugh torched opposing defenses game after game, completing 66 percent of his passes for 2,184 yards and 32 touchdowns. He has started 21 games in his career, and has received several Division I scholarship offers.

Brumbaugh has two of his favorite targets back in wide receivers Tyler Challingsworth (5-11, 160, sr.) and Eric Myers (6-2, 200, sr.). Challingsworth caught 23 passes for 445 yards and Myers made 21 receptions for 300 yards.

Luckily for the Lions, the opposition won't be able to load up on trying to stop the pass. That's because running back Jeff Davis (5-11, 175, sr.) is back. Davis had some monster games last season, and finished with 1,209 yards and 21 touchdowns.

The Lions hope they can extend their season a little longer this year. After earning the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs and winning their first postseason game since 2000, the Lions were bounced in the quarterfinals by eventual finalist Aliquippa in a wild contest, 47-34. The Lions had not allowed that many points combined in their previous five games.

When asked to candidly appraise his expectations for his team for the upcoming season, Keystone Oaks coach Nick Kamberis was blunt: "playoff contender."

With one of the most potent running back tandems in the WPIAL, the Golden Eagles might not only be contending for a playoff spot, but a WPIAL championship, too.

Matt McCann (5-11, 195, sr.) and Jordan Maddox (5-7, 185, sr.) combined for more than 3,000 yards rushing and 46 touchdowns last season. McCann gained 1,751 yards and scored 22 touchdowns, and Maddox added 1,441 yards and 24 touchdowns. Both finished among the WPIAL's top-21 rushers in the regular season.

In all, the Golden Eagles bring back four starters on offense and seven on defense from a team that finished second in the Century Conference and advanced to the WPIAL semifinals.

Also returning is quarterback Matt Buckley (5-9, 160, jr.), who passed for 740 yards and four touchdowns, and leading receiver Rico Canello (5-7, 165, sr.).

The Golden Eagles must rebuild their offensive line, however, where Joe Grecek (6-3, 255, sr.) is the only starter back.

On defense, among the returnees are defensive backs Nate Kinley (6-0, 171, sr.) and Mark McCann (5-11, 175, jr.), lineman Mark Fratangelo (6-1, 265, sr.) and linebacker Mike Kazalas (5-11, 209, sr.).

Kamberis expects some of his top newcomers to be wide receiver/defensive back Cory Sevacko (6-2, 162, soph.), lineman Josh Brunner (6-3, 248, sr.) and quarterback/defensive back Rickey Rodgers (6-2, 181, fr.).

Their string of five consecutive playoff appearances snapped last season, the Rebels hope to rebound with a youthful squad that could surprise.

"We're young, but I'm optimistic that they will grow and compete," said coach Greg Perry, who owns a 36-16 record in five seasons at Seton-LaSalle.

The Rebels hope to start the season much like they did last season, winning their first four games. The team dropped their final five games, however, to finish in a tie for fifth place in the Century Conference.

Quarterback is always a strong suit for the Rebels, and the ability to get solid play from the position will be extremely important again this year. Anthony Rizza, the WPIAL's passing leader during the regular season a year ago, graduated. Thus, the role will fall into the hands of first-time starter David O'Brien (6-1, 190, sr.).

Also needing to replace Rizza's team-leading rushing yardage, the Rebels return running back Kevin Hart (6-0, 185, jr.), who placed second on the team in that category with 327 yards and four touchdowns.

Wide receiver Chad Dawgiello (6-1, 180, sr.) was the second-leading receiver last season when he hauled in 30 passes for 425 yards. He should get some help at the position from Michael DelSardo (5-8, 175, sr.).

Other returning starters include running back/linebacker Jamie Miller (5-11, 215, jr.), and two-way linemen Will French (6-2, 245, jr.), J.J. Beggan (6-3, 260, jr.), Ben Skiff (6-1, 230, sr.) and Eric Krempasky (6-0, 225, sr.).

With former coach Ray Braszo back in his second stint at neighboring West Mifflin, the Ironmen begin their first season with Rod Steele at the helm.

A former Central Catholic assistant, Steele accepted the job in March, and takes over an Ironmen team that went 6-4 last season, making the playoffs as the fourth-place team in the Century Conference.

While at Central, Steele coached more than a few terrific running backs, and he'll build his offense around another at Steel Valley. Senior Delrece Williams shined in his first season as a starter, running for 1,204 yards on a 7.6-yards-per-carry average and scored 17 touchdowns.

Williams isn't the lone weapon in the running game, however. Senior fullback James Caldwell provides a great complement to Williams, evidenced by his 672 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

All four of Steel Valley's losses last season came to teams that advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals, including Beaver Falls, which defeated the Ironmen, 42-14, in the first round.

In his premier as Washington's head coach, Mike Bosnic helped the Prexies rebound from one of their worst seasons in recent memory by gaining a WPIAL playoff berth.

Bosnic and company are hoping the sequel is even better.

After going 1-8 in 2008, the Prexies responded to their new coach's tutelage by going 6-4 and finishing fourth in the Interstate Conference. They eventually fell to Center in the first round of the playoffs.

Now members of the Century Conference, the Prexies welcome back many contributors. Among them is senior quarterback Marquis Brown, who passed for 682 yards and nine touchdowns, adding 279 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.

The Prexies' top two rushing threats are back in senior Zach Barnes (718 yards, five touchdowns) and sophomore Daron Whitaker (371 yards, three touchdowns). The Prexies lost tight end Bryan Thomas, who is now playing at Bowling Green, but they return second-leading receiver Julien Anderson, who caught 16 passes for 232 yards.

Having had just five seniors on the roster, the Cougars were one of the youngest teams in the WPIAL last season.

A year later, that inexperience has done a 180-degree turn.

Leading a more veteran bunch is junior running back Quentin Briggs, a three-year starter who ran for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, including 1,230 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. He had six 100-yard games.

Also back for coach Luke Mollis is senior quarterback Tommy Thorpe, who passed for 630 yards and five touchdowns in Charleroi's run-heavy attack.

The Cougars also return their top two receivers, seniors Kyle Shannon and Simeon Bell. Shannon was second on the team with seven touchdowns.

Senior Demetri Edwards ran for 324 yards, second-most on the team. Senior Cory Altemara was the third-leading receiver and also the Cougars' third-leading rusher with 319 yards.

A strong finish should be among the primary goals for the Cougars. After storming out to a 5-1 start a season ago, they dropped three in a row and came up short of a WPIAL playoff berth in the Inetrstate Conference.

The Cougars, who finished 6-4 overall, averaged 23 points per game and gave up 16 per contest.

Former Duquesne coach Pat Monroe's second season at South Allegheny didn't go nearly as well as the first.

He and his Gladiators are hoping to take another positive step in resurrecting a program that hasn't had a winning season since 1993.

The Gladiators finished 0-10 last season (0-9 in the Century Conference) after going 5-5 a year earlier.

Monroe had several underclassmen play key roles a season ago, so another year of experience could make a big difference. Junior quarterback Dylan Fox, senior running back Nick Camponizzi and junior tight end Jesse James all showed flashes of potential. Fox stepped in for injured starter Zach Anderson, who will be a senior. Senior running back/linebacker Tyler Wagner was expected to be back, as well.

Much improvement will be needed on both sides of the ball, particularly on offense, where the Gladiators averaged just 5.9 points per game, which was the second-fewest in Class AA.

Defensively, the Gladiators gave up 30.9 points on average, but just 19 total in their final two games.

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