Welcome to the first edition of the Sanserino Scale, a preseason ranking system for teams from the Post-Gazette's East coverage area. It's similar to the Richter Scale, which measures the force of earthquakes, but hopefully my preseason picks won't be as disastrous.

1. Woodland Hills -- The defending WPIAL champions are without several key pieces from last year's title team, but the Wolverines are still loaded. At least three players (and probably more, depending on how the underclassmen develop) will be playing football on Saturdays at Division I schools. And this writer never bets against George Novak.

2. Central Catholic -- The Vikings were thoroughly deflated after last year's WPIAL quarterfinal loss to the Wolverines, but Central Catholic returns skill players at quarterback, running back and wide receiver. If the lines can hold up, the Vikings could be the top team in Class AAAA.

3. Gateway -- Almost all of the stars from last year's high-scoring team are gone. But the Gators never rebuild; they reload. Senior Armstead Williams will be a force at linebacker and a go-to target at receiver, and some in the community are holding out hope that senior safety Dondi Kirby recovers from a torn ACL in time for the playoffs.

4. McKeesport -- This could be the year the Tigers supplant the Gators as the Foothills Conference champs, but there are a lot of unknowns at McKeesport. New coach Jim Ward has installed a new offense, and a new quarterback will be under center.

5. Norwin -- Wide receiver Christian Bryan, a senior, might be one of the most underrated players in the WPIAL, and the Knights could flourish with Bryan and senior quarterback Tim Petro returning. With uncertainty among the perennial conference powers, this team is a darkhorse to win the Foothills title.

6. Penn Hills -- The Indians have some work to do after last year's 5-6 finish. Brandon Ifill's graduation doesn't help.

7. Latrobe -- A 47-0 loss to North Allegheny in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs was not the way Ray Reitz wanted to end his first season as the Wildcats' coach. Look for a better finish this season.

8. Plum -- With six starters back on both sides of the ball, the Mustangs have a good amount of experience. But experience might not be enough in the Big East.

9. Penn-Trafford -- A new coach will breathe life into the program, but it will take some time.

10. Hempfield Area -- If quarterback Dante Nania keeps improving, the Spartans could be good enough to advance to the WPIAL quarterfinals.

11. Kiski Area -- Wins will be a tough find after the Cavaliers graduated a lot of players.

1. Greensburg Salem -- Size will be a big factor (pun intended) in the Golden Lions' success this season.

2. Franklin Regional -- The Panthers could be No. 1, but questions remain at too many key positions.

3. Derry Area -- A new quarterback will inherit a team that went 3-7 last year and returns nine starters.

4. Valley -- The Vikings struggled in Class AA. Moving up won't help.

1. Greensburg Central Catholic -- The top skill players have graduated, but the Centurions will have top linemen Pat Mahoney, Bernie Sarra and Joe Sullivan. Coach Muzzy Colosimo and the boys should be rolling again.

2. Jeannette -- The Jayhawks should bounce back after missing the playoffs last season -- their first absence in 15 years.

3. Mount Pleasant -- The Vikings were the No. 2 seed in the playoffs last year, but with one returning starter they could struggle to make the postseason.

4. Yough -- A bit of an unknown, Yough dropped from Class AAA and will bring a new coach along, too.

5. Burrell -- A high-scoring team last season, the Bucs return only one starter on offense.

6. East Allegheny -- The Wildcats lost seven games last season and allowed an average of more than 27 points per game.

1. Serra Catholic -- New coach Jamie Eckels will inherit six starters in a tough conference, but the Eagles should still be the class of the East.

2. Riverview -- Starters return at nine positions, which means the Raiders could qualify for the playoffs.

3. Wilkinsburg -- Will win No. 500 come this season? Probably. Will win No. 501 come this season? Probably not.

1. Schenley -- Last year's City League champs return talent at skill positions, which will separate the Spartans from the rest.

2. Allderdice -- Nine starters return, but will they be enough to wake the Dragons?

3. Peabody -- The Highlanders' chances rest on the shoulder of quarterback Dontae Forte, who missed last season with an injury.

4. Westinghouse -- The Bulldogs ended last season on a bit of a hot streak. Let's see how long the momentum lasts before we start believing.

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