1. Woodland Hills: If anybody in the area is able to plug holes from departed seniors, it's the Wolverines. Division I recruits Lafayette Pitts (RB/DB, headed to Pitt next year), Ejuan Price (LB), and Quinton Jefferson (DE) headline a stellar senior class, and junior linebacker Mike Caprara is on the fast track to join the blue-chip ranks. With such a strong returning core and despite questions of who will replace departed quarterback John Yezovich, the top spot belongs to the former champs until someone knocks them off.
2. Central Catholic: There are a lot of elements that make the Vikings an instant contender: size, speed, experience and overall talent. They have an exciting group of juniors in running back Damion Jones-Moore, receiver Anthony Nixon, and quarterback Perry Hills, among a handful of talented offensive linemen. Also keep an eye out for running back Arnell Farmer, who could join with Jones-Moore for a dynamic one-two punch in the backfield.
3. Bethel Park: The Black Hawks bring back only a handful of veterans from last season, but their seniors are as talented and experienced as they come. The running back pair of Nick Kwiatkoski and Bre Ford is as good as any in the WPIAL, and Max Bair is the anchor on the offensive line. Kwiatkoski will also be a key member of the defense at safety, the position he will play at West Virginia next fall. Head coach Jeff Metheny has built a strong foundation of success for the program with a 25-3 record and a WPIAL championship in the past two seasons.
4. Gateway: I'll admit, losing blue-chipper Dondi Kirby for the season with an ACL injury knocked the Gators down a spot or two, but they've got plenty of talent in reserve not to be counted out. Senior Armstead Williams is a solid receiver, and will also lead a corps of linebackers that should turn some heads this season. Sascha Craig is one of the best returning pass rushers in the area (11 sacks last season), and sophomore quarterback Tom Woodson should get plenty of opportunity to shine under the tutelage of head coach and former Gators WPIAL champion quarterback Terry Smith.
5. North Allegheny: They're already the favorite to win the Northern Seven Conference, and they got a huge offseason boost with the arrival of transfers Rob Kugler (TE/DE) and Sean Kugler (OL/DL) from Buffalo. Offensive lineman Justin Haser fits tightly into a group that should aptly handle paving the road for back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher Alex Papson. Quarterback play could be the difference for the Tigers, and that will be left to first-year starter Mike Buchert.
Look Out For: Erie McDowell, McKeesport, Mt. Lebanon, North Hills, Upper St. Clair
WPIAL CLASS AAA
1. West Allegheny: Bob Palko's Indians from Imperial are back on top of the mountain, and they have one of the area's top players leading the way in senior running back/defensive back Mike Caputo. One of the WPIAL's top rushers and the team's leading tackler on defense last season, he'll look to make another Heinz Field run before packing for Wisconsin next year. But first they'll have to keep a few strong challengers in the rear view throughout the season.
2. New Castle: In what could be a four-horse race for the second spot, the Red Hurricane might be the most experienced of the lot. Their high-powered offense is back with quarterback John Matarazzo at the helm after throwing for nearly 2,000 yards with a 65-percent completion percentage as a sophomore. Yeah, he's pretty good, and with a good number of starters returning from a team that reached the quarterfinals last year behind him, there's no reason to think they can't make a deeper run in 2010.
3. Hopewell: They have one of the best players in the nation in Rushel Shell, and he has already rushed for 4,200-plus yards in his first two seasons, but he's the Vikings' only returning starter on either side of the ball. Can last year's rushing champion carry his team on his back all the way to Heinz Field to finish the mission they fell short of last year? Their regular season finale and championship game rematch against West Allegheny on Oct. 28 will probably determine the top seed entering the WPIAL playoffs.
4. Chartiers Valley: Quarterback Wayne Capers Jr. is back healthy, and his all-around ability makes the Colts a dangerous force in the Big Eight Conference. Look for them to possibly steal the conference title from Thomas Jefferson this season, although that's a much harder job than it sounds. But with one of the WPIAL's best players back under center and a number of experienced veterans returning, it's not impossible.
5. Thomas Jefferson:This is probably one of the few times in this decade you'll see Bill Cherpak's Jaguars ranked so low, but what used to be a perennial power is undergoing a youth movement of sorts. Cherpak has said in the past this incoming group of freshmen could be the best class he's ever had by the time they're seniors, but junior running back Ryan Ruffing will have to shoulder the load on offense for the time being.
Look Out For: Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Hampton, Mars, Montour
WPIAL CLASS AA
1. Greensburgh Central Catholic: The Centurions established their position as the team to beat in last year's championship game when they throttled powerhouse Aliquippa, 33-7. Of course they don't have running back David Miller or Trent Hurley anymore, but they still have the big, dominant line that paved the way for them. Quarterback Terrance Stepoli comes over as a transfer from Monessen, and he should make a big impact immediately. Sophomore defensive back Zach Guiser will be on the prowl to prove his seven-interception freshman season was no fluke.
2. South Fayette: If Greensburg Central is No. 1, then the Lions are more like 1-A. An undefeated regular season was marred by a quarterfinal loss to Aliquippa last year, but they have most of the firepower returning that they need to make a championship run. Quarterback Christian Brumbaugh was the WPIAL's best regular-season passer as a junior in 2009 (2,184 yards, 32 touchdowns), and running back Jeff Davis (1,209 yards, 21 touchdowns) gives South Fayette arguably the best all-around offensive attack in the area.
3. Keystone Oaks: You better believe Nick Kamberis's Golden Eagles want another shot at the defending champs after last year's 24-19 semifinal loss. The tag team of former Clearview Student-Athlete of the Week Matt McCann (1,751 yards, 22 touchdowns) and Jordan Maddox (1,441 yards, 24 touchdowns) was the WPIAL's only 1,000-yard rushing pair last season, and they did that with Maddox missing some time due to injury. Just imagine what they could accomplish with both of them healthy.
4. Aliquippa: After falling short in last year's WPIAL title game, the Quips are older, stronger, and (dare I say) better. Quarterback Mikal Hall threw for 1,045 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore, and the running game should get a serious boost from the tandem of seniors Darius Walker (649 yards, seven touchdowns) and Center transfer Ben Cobb. Head coach Mike Zmijanac is one of the best game-planners around, and his teams always seem to be ready to play. Don't count them out. Ever.
5. Freeport: Defense is the name of the game for the Yellowjackets, who rode out a seven-game winning streak to finish the 2009 regular season 8-1, allowing a touchdown or less in the last five. Most of that unit returns, led by senior linebacker Jake Campbell. They will challenge Shady Side Academy for the Allegheny Conference title that the Indians beat them for last season.
Look Out For: Beaver Falls, Ford City, Jeannette, Shady Side Academy, Steel Valley
WPIAL CLASS A
1. Clairton: Is there anything they can't do? They had the largest margin of victory in 2009 at 35.8 points per game, largely because they scored nearly 40 points per game and their defense had eight shutouts on their way to both the WPIAL and state crowns. Gone are Deontae Howard and Kevin Weatherspoon, but Desimon Green is back to lead the offense at quarterback (2,435 yards, 26 total touchdowns) and cause disruption at defensive end, where he'll play next fall at Pitt. Having a bunch of all-conference guys returning with him on defense doesn't hurt.
2. Rochester: Clairton was the only thing that stood between the Rams and their fifth WPIAL title in the past decade; that and a single point, the difference in last year's title game. They will be back to make sure they finish the job this time around, led by quarterback Jason Adamson (1,449 yards). They also had one of the area's best defenses last year, not allowing more than two touchdowns in a game. Another undefeated regular season isn't out of reach, but it won't be enough for the Rams if they can't win the last game of the season at Heinz Field.
3. Sto-Rox: For the first time since 2003, the Vikings are back in Class A. Gone are blue-chip quarterback Paul Jones (Penn State) and Drew Carswell (Pitt), but a quartet of talented juniors that saw plenty of playing time as sophomores are ready to take up the mantle. Deaysean Rippey (WR/LB) is already a Division I prospect. Quarterback Jordan Latimer did an admirable job while Jones was out with his ankle injury. Joshuae Beverly was the team's leading rusher last season, and Dontez Ford is a stud in the making at wide receiver/defensive back.
4. North Catholic: The men of Troy ruled the Eastern Conference with an iron fist last season with an undefeated record, and reached the semifinals before falling to Rochester by only a touchdown last season. Quarterback Martin Long threw for 1,249 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior, and ran for another 400-plus yards. He's going to need help in the ground game since last year's leading rusher, Julian Durden, transferred to Montour.
5. Beth-Center: There's plenty of room for a dark horse in Class A, why not Beth-Center? The Bulldogs fell only a game short of winning the Tri-County South Conference championship, and their best offensive weapons -- Deshan Brown (RB), Sal Faieta (QB), Jeremy Price (WR), and Jake Sofran (RB) -- all played significant time as sophomores. They should help to progress an offense that tied for fourth in the league in scoring with over 300 points last year.
Look Out For: Bishop Canevin, Jefferson-Morgan, Monessen, Serra Catholic, South Side Beaver, Springdale
CITY LEAGUE
1. Perry: Perry has the talent to regain the place atop the city ranks that it held for so long, led by quarterback Greg McGhee, the consensus best player in the league. He'll have plenty of help around him with the likes of receivers Gerald Sherrell and Devin Ghafor.
2. Schenley: The defending champs return with multi-threat quarterback/defensive back De'Andre Black returning to lead the charge. Head coach Jason Black said after the championship game his team succeeded last year because of "incredible heart," but it's going to take more than that for the Spartans to defend their place on the City League throne.
3. Brashear: It's hard to believe the Bulls could replace such top-flight talent as Manasseh Garner, Henri Chatman, and Bruce Patterson, but they're going to give it a go with a veteran offensive line and skill players Manny Reed, Dom Patterson and Joe Nesbit to plug the holes on the depth chart.
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