League-by-league previews

Drew Pearson described his Delco Christian football team as "hungry."

And why wouldn't the second-year coach's team be hungry after getting a taste of what it's like to compete in a District 1 Class A final last season?

The Knights finished third in the Bicentennial Athletic League last year, going 8-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference, eventually dropping the district title game to league rival Bristol, 19-6.

Pearson called the clash, which was a 7-6 game well into the fourth quarter, an experience that helped launch his players' development in the offseason.

But if Delco Christian and the Warriors find similar success again this year, they won't be meeting in the district championship. That's because Bristol has moved up to Class AA.

The Knights are led by senior captain Alex Linton (6-foot, 192 pounds), a middle linebacker and fullback whom Pearson called "a hard-nosed, tough kid."

They are going to need Linton when they face Bristol, considering the Warriors have dynamic running back Donte Simmons returning.

Simmons rushed for more than 1,900 yards on 221 carries last season, scoring 28 touchdowns. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior already is the program's all-time leading rusher with more than 4,600 yards and has 59 career touchdowns.

R.J. Collins, who took some snaps last year for the Warriors, will quarterback the team. The junior is lucky to have an offensive line full of big and physical guys, and that should give him time to find his talented, playmaking wide receivers.

"Bristol is the team to beat, without question," Pearson said. "They bring a lot of guys back. I see them improving upon what they did last year."

Elsewhere in the Bicentennial:

Derrick Savage is the new man in charge at Morrisville and looks to improve upon a 1-9 season in which the Bulldogs went winless in league play.

New Hope-Solebury, the defending league champion, went undefeated in the Bicentennial last season. They lost a lot of seniors, but the Lions' matchup at Bristol on Sept. 12 should be a game to watch.

St. Joseph's Prep and La Salle might be the sturdiest heavyweights in the Catholic League, but Father Judge is doing its best to close the gap.

In Year 2 under coach Mike McKay, the Crusaders have the skill-position players to compete, even in the loaded Class AAAA division. Yeedee Thaenrat, a powerful running back who was born in Liberia, has drawn interest from a slew of Division I programs, including Penn State and Rutgers. QB Zach Carroll is back to throw to receivers Prince Smith, Clayton Rush, and Matt Hartigan.

Depth will be an issue, as Judge still has significantly fewer players than the top programs.

"Those teams are good for a reason," McKay said. "They have great coaching staffs, and they have the facilities. Judge is trying to do the same. Little by little, we're building it."

The road to a AAAA title goes through St. Joe's Prep. Prep's road, meanwhile, goes through much of America.

The Hawks will open the season against teams from Illinois, Ohio, and New Jersey, and will not play a Pennsylvania team until October.

The Hawks return eight starters on each side of the ball. LT Jon Runyan (Michigan), LG Shane Davis, C Ed Mooney, and RG Mark Ehrlich are all back to clear space for Virginia-bound RB Olamide Zaccheaus. QB Jack Clement has dynamic playmaker John Reid (Penn State) at WR. Cerebral DE Jake Strain leads the defensive line.

Vanderbilt-bound QB Kyle Shurmur will have versatile RBs Jordan Meachum and Nick Rinella and quick WR Jimmy Herron at his disposal as La Salle looks to get back on top after failing to win Class AAAA for the first time since 2008.

Manny Taylor (Rutgers) and Gavin Wiggins (Youngstown State) give Roman Catholic star power on an offensive line that should open plenty of holes for Dimetri Kelly, a physical RB who doesn't always need holes.

Class AAA. Two out of three - as in state titles for Archbishop Wood - ain't bad, but three out of four would be even better.

Villanova-bound RB Jarrett McClenton established state-championship game records for carries (40) and yards (238) last year for Wood. He'll again pile up yardage behind a line led by tackle Ryan Bates (Penn State). Jake Cooper (Penn State) and Justin Rubin form one of the area's top linebacker tandems.

Archbishop Ryan, which defeated Wood last season, drops down from AAAA. Ryan returns the PCL's leading rusher, Samir Bullock, who topped 2,000 yards as a junior and established a team record when he ran for 345 against Cardinal O'Hara.

Cardinal O'Hara will play with heavy hearts after the passing of coach Danny Algeo. Paul Strus is the interim coach. Brandon Laughlin takes over at QB behind a line anchored by Andrew Gallagher.

No lead is safe against Bonner-Prendergast, thanks to strong-armed QB Collin DiGalbo (16 TDs last year). QB Sean McMorran and WR Christian Ritter will try to make up for the talent that Archbishop Carroll graduated.

Class AA. West Catholic WR/DB Ahkil Crumpton, OL/DE Tymir Oliver, and RB/DB David Swen have received interest from D-I programs. QB Antwain McCollum is within range of the program's passing record.

Neumann-Goretti returns LB Mike DiFrancesco, who is receiving interest from Temple, Villanova, Pitt, and Syracuse. OL Joe D'Emilio (6-5, 300) has drawn looks from Villanova. Ray Lenhart is back under center.

Lansdale Catholic, which went 3-0 against AA teams last year, arrives from AAA, bringing RB Ryan Quigley and QB Joe Pinzka with it. Conwell-Egan, led by burly DE/TE Wyett McLeod, will look to spring some upsets. Bishop McDevitt, led by do-everything RB Stephen Leach, won't win the division but will contend for the Class A state title.

The usual suspects at the top of the Central League lost a ton to graduation after last season. To take advantage, Springfield (Delco) will turn to a guy it lost to graduation 20 years ago.

Chris Britton, who played for Springfield in the early 1990s and has been on its coaching staff for 12 years, took over for Tom Kline this winter. He inherited a good situation, with eight returning starters on defense and six on offense, as the Cougars will try to reach the District 1 Class AAA playoffs for the fifth straight season.

The defense, in particular, should be a strength, with 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker Adam Krauter returning to wreak havoc after racking up more than 110 tackles last year. Matt Cella is a 245-pound force on both sides of the line. Second-team all-Central League running back Colin Braconnier and defensive end Brian Layden also return.

Garnet Valley perpetually reloads, so just because the Jaguars graduated almost 50 players from their undefeated, league-championship squad does not mean they won't be favored to repeat.

They even received a surprising return from a player they thought they lost, when Rutgers-bound lineman Ted Field, who flirted with a transfer to Cardinal O'Hara, opted to stay. He will anchor a line that also features center Shane Stabinski and should clear plenty of space for RB Zach Nelson. Team sack record-holder Joey Granahan and LB Connor Faith anchor the defense.

Penncrest QB Dan Fisher once again will line up behind center Sean Stitz and one of the league's best lines, featuring Rutgers-bound guard Jonah Jackson (6-4, 288) and Carlos Ruiz (6-3, 310). Linebackers Chris Alyankian and Diego Zubieta lead the defense, which returns six starters.

Upper Darby graduated three first-team all-Central players from its best team in recent memory, but big linemen Scott Rucci, Madhat Fares, and Nataar Henderson could pave the way to sustained success.

Perennial favorite Ridley graduated plenty from a team that failed to make the postseason. LB Ryan Dougherty and DE Mike Cropper lead new coordinator Jeff Hamson's defense. Jesse Lesher (6-3, 320) returns on the line.

Haverford High has QB Jack Donaghy, who also plays point guard on the basketball team; 6-4 WR Nick Costello; and big OL Brian Ross returning to a squad that won eight games last season.

Conestoga has plenty of talent back, including Martin Dorsey, a 6-4 wide receiver who is getting Division I looks, and second-team all-league LB Eddie Jean. Strath Haven, led by two-way lineman Justin Fremont, is seeking its first winning season since 2011. Radnor, which features likely Division I center Alex Andersen, will look to increase its win total for the fourth straight season.

New coach Chris Gicking will attempt to lead his alma mater, Marple Newtown, to its first winning season since 2011. The transition will be eased by RB Adrian Sapnas.

Big tight end Sam Schlichting and versatile running back Eddie Byrd III lead an up-tempo Harriton offense that could surprise. Bryan Scopelliti takes over at Lower Merion, which has not won a game in more than two years.

The off-field distractions that continue to swirl around the Coatesville football program are not going away anytime soon.

"It hasn't disappeared," Red Raiders coach Matt Ortega said of last fall's scandal involving two school administrators and a string of racist text messages. "I don't think we're going to be out of that cloud until after the football season is over."

But on the field, the Red Raiders have plenty of reasons for optimism. It begins with their secondary, loaded with Division I talent and led by Jay Stocker, Akeema Evans, and Ricky Southcott.

That much talent on one unit "is rare," Ortega said. "But we've done a great job in terms of player development, and the kids respect that."

The Red Raiders plan to move Amir Ealey, who has received several Division I offers, including from Temple, all over the defensive line. The spread offense will lean on its quarterback, 6-foot-2, 200-pound converted running back Jordan Young, and his improved arm. Young's father, Anthony, was a Temple all-American who played three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.

Standing in the way in the Ches-Mont League National Division will be perennial playoff team West Chester Henderson. The Warriors are big and deep, led by Villanova-bound Bryan White, a skilled technician on the offensive line who recorded 90 tackles on the defensive line a year ago. QB Matt Dinacci and RBs Brian Armstrong and Tre Green should pile up yards behind White and James McDonald.

Downingtown East coach Mike Matta said 6-7 junior tight end Cary Angeline, who has several offers from BCS programs, could be one of the best ever. With a receiving corps that features senior Dan Chisena and athletic junior Saunders Healy, the offense has plenty of options. East's defense returns eight players, including all-league LB Tyler Buban.

Downingtown West ground its way to the National title in 2013, and will be riding high for a repeat, with a ton of returners including QB Tyler McNulty, RB Jake Barr, and LB Lucas McMahon.

Electric QB Jon Jon Roberts makes West Chester East a threat. UConn-bound DE Kevin Murphy leads the Vikings defense.

Bishop Shanahan is loaded with skill players, including versatile QB Danny Murphy. New coach Harry O'Neill will look to turn Avon Grove around after back-to-back one-win seasons.

Defending American Division champion West Chester Rustin won't throw much and won't need to, with Division I RB Terry Loper returning behind a massive offensive line that features 6-6, 320-pound junior Ray Bordley, a dominating run blocker who has drawn interest from Penn State.

Unionville, which has crafty dual-threat QB Alex Pechin, should again challenge. So should Great Valley, which is led by Penn State-bound, four-star LB Ryan Buchholz. Oxford won seven games last season and returns second-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania lineman Andrew Jones.

Kennett is young but should be strong on the defensive line, thanks to Drexel-bound lacrosse star Matt Petrick and Lee Woodall Jr., son of the former San Francisco 49ers Pro Bowl player. Octorara will look to improve on its one-win season. Longtime Marple Newtown coach Ray Gionta takes over at Sun Valley.

Jason Vosheski had a clear message when he first addressed his Academy Park team in preseason.

"I told them on Day 1, you're the team," he said. "You have a bull's-eye on your back. You have to prepare each and every day like you're playing that championship game."

Academy Park (10-3 overall, 4-1 Del-Val) lost quarterback Brian Ingram and running back Jerry Lanier, but after the Knights won the Del-Val League in 2012 and District 1 Class AAA in 2013, expectations remain lofty.

"I think our kids are as good as anybody else in the league," Vosheski said.

For the second straight year, the Knights converted a wide receiver to quarterback. Allon Ruffin will start. Ruffin is a standout athlete, having run on the school's district-qualifying 4x400-meter relay team, and has a strong arm. His top target will be senior Josh Ingram, Brian's brother.

"I don't think we can be as good as last year's team," Vosheski said. "That's what I'm saying now, but last year at this time, I didn't think we'd be playing for a district championship."

Interboro (6-5, 3-2), once again, expects to challenge Academy Park. The Bucs, who beat Academy Park in the 2012 District 1 Class AAA final, will start Sean Menold at QB. One of his go-to targets should be senior WR Mark Everton, who led the team in receiving last year.

Glen Mills (9-3, 5-0) won the Del-Val last year, but the Bulls have lost quarterback Dontae Coates and running back Shaaheen Dow. The Bulls still have their sights set on winning the league behind RB/DB Daron Savoy, DB Quentin Christian, and OL Naje Lathan.

Chichester (5-7, 2-3) hopes to make up for inexperience with athleticism. Colin McAllister and Isaiah Bobo will block for Kevin Miller, John Lawrence, and Dan Sullivan, who all will play in the backfield.

Penn Wood (1-9, 0-5) went 2-28 over the last three years, but coach Nick Lincoln takes the reins after running the Imhotep Charter offense. Lincoln brings a fast-paced offense that he said will be the fastest in the state, from "Imhotep to the Philadelphia Eagles."

Chester (2-8, 1-4) also features a new coach, Tony Beaty and will return a veteran-laden backfield, with juniors Ed Nelson Jr. and Arlo Lee and senior Wayne Gibbs Jr. returning as starters.

Malvern Prep's football team still will attend Mass before every game. It will still do its "rooster" chant after wins.

For the first time in 36 years, however, a Pellegrini won't be the coach.

While Aaron Brady conceded that he didn't know yet what the rooster was, he hoped to find out quickly. He takes over the team that won the Inter-Ac 24 times under father and son Gamp and Kevin Pellegrini, including a share of the title last year under Kevin, who resigned after the season.

Some of the traditions will remain, but Brady, formerly the coach at Gonzaga College High in Washington, D.C., will replace the wing-T offense with his spread offense, which helped four of his quarterbacks get to play in college, including Stanford starter Kevin Hogan.

At Malvern (8-2, 4-1 Inter-Ac last season), Brady inherits Alex Hornibrook, a senior who has committed to play at the University of Pittsburgh. Brady already thinks Hornibrook has it all.

"Usually, quarterbacks don't have everything," said Brady, who expects to allow Hornibrook to call plays at some point. "They can throw the ball, but they're not that smart. They know where to throw it, but they can't always get it there.

"I think we have a gem."

Malvern Prep also will be led by Trevor Morris, a senior linebacker committed to Rutgers.

Malvern will be challenged by Haverford School (6-5, 4-1), which rebounded from a 2-4 nonleague record to share the Inter-Ac title with the Friars last year. This season, the Fords return 20 seniors, including running back Phil Poquie, who topped 120 yards five times last year, and wide receivers Derek Mountain and Dox Aitken.

Episcopal Academy (8-3, 3-2) finished 10-0 and won the Inter-Ac in 2012. The Churchmen will look to get back to the top of the league behind senior offensive/defensive lineman John Minicozzi, who coach Todd Fairlie said was "as good a lineman as you will see this year." Senior quarterback Ryan Whayland set the single-season league record with 2,091 passing yards last year. Dee Barlee ran for 679 yards last year as a sophomore and could be poised for big things.

Springside Chestnut Hill (5-5, 1-4) returns 16 starters, including junior quarterback Paul Dooley, who finished his 2012 campaign by throwing for seven touchdowns in a 63-50 loss at Malvern. Springside Chestnut Hill also will rely on wide receiver Dylan Parsons and 6-foot-6, 335-pound offensive/defensive lineman Darian Bryant, who has received interest from Duke, Pitt, and Maryland.

Sophomore QB Michael Hnatkowsky returns as the starter at Penn Charter (4-6, 1-4), and second-year coach Tom Coyle expects to throw the ball more. Hnatkowsky is aided by wide receivers Pat McCain and Denarii Beard and tight end Evan Ferrell.

Germantown Academy (6-4, 2-3) lost 15 seniors from last year's team. It was the school's best overall record in 12 years. However, the Patriots have 50 players on their roster, up 21 from two years ago, and return running back Ryan Calhoun, slot receiver Kashta Davis, and offensive lineman Max Hanamirian, a third-year starter.

Some familiar faces were on the field for new coach George Parkinson on the first day of Boyertown's training camp.

Quite a few members of the Bears felt familiar with Parkinson, too. For the last four years, he has been the freshman football coach at Boyertown East Junior High.

Despite all that, Boyertown might not look like it has in the past.

The Bears won't run a no-huddle offense as they did last year, as they don't have any starters returning on the offensive end. Parkinson said he is implementing a dual offensive system and hoping to eliminate two-way players to bring a sense of consistency and balance.

The two-time defending Pioneer Athletic Conference champion, Pottsgrove, has won 23 straight league contests since 2011 and last season lost only in the District 1 Class AAA semifinals by a point.

Mike Fowler a 5-foot-11, 165-pound cornerback and wideout, is a big playmaker for the Falcons, and Pottsgrove also returns second-team all-state lineman Patrick Finn (6-4, 257).

Spring-Ford lost all 11 starters on defense, but don't count out the Rams in the conference title race.

Last year, the Rams relied on their seasoned running game and explosive backs to ignite the offense, while a new quarterback, Brandon Leacraft (6-1, 185), got acclimated. Now, with last season's backfield having graduated and with a year of experience under his belt, Leacraft gets his chance to run the offense.

The Rams are fairly deep at wide receiver with sophomore Stone Scarcelle (6-1, 185) and senior Danny Matthews (5-10, 175), two players to watch. Scarcelle, a free safety, and Matthews, a defensive back, also can make their mark on the other side of the ball.

Seniors Zach Smiley (5-10, 220) and Zach Dorsey (6-2, 275) return on both lines for the Rams, and junior Trey Jarmon (5-9, 165), a transfer from West Chester East, will look to contribute to the offensive backfield.

Perkiomen Valley's explosive, no-huddle offense made waves throughout the PAC-10 as well as the district as the Vikings made it all the way to the District 1 Class AAAA semifinals. But even with many members of that vibrant attack having graduated - including standout quarterback Rasaan Stewart, now at Villanova - Parkinson called the Vikings a "standout team" in the conference.

Parkinson is one of four new coaches in the conference. The others are Tom Hontz, Upper Perkiomen; Rory Graver, Pope John Paul II; and Evan Breisblatt, Phoenixville.

With the return of Bruce Smalley, Terry Hall, Kevin Abrokwah, and Brandon Brown, George Washington was going to be a team to beat in Class AAAA (Division 2) of the Public League.

And then, Shareef Miller transferred over from Frankford.

A highly touted defensive end who also plays tight end, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Miller has received offers from about 20 schools, including Penn State, Michigan State, Pitt, Oregon, Syracuse, Rutgers, and Temple.

He joins senior running backs Smalley (5-9, 175) and Hall (5-9, 160), as well as senior offensive tackles Abrokwah (6-4, 225) and Brown (6-1, 245).

Miller's previous team, the Pioneers, won back-to-back AAAA Public League titles but lost many of the key pieces from those championship squads to graduation. With no offensive starters returning and only two starters back on defense - senior cornerback Devontae Lee and senior outside linebacker Byshawn Jenkins (5-9, 170) - newcomers will be the key for Frankford.

This season, Lee (5-10, 165) will transition to quarterback, and Frankford hopes he will use his athleticism to be a dual threat every down. Also, Ralph Hyland (5-8, 160), a transfer from Central, will look to make a difference as a running back and cornerback. Elsewhere, look for 6-3, 300-pound sophomore Derrick Ellerson to stand out on the offensive line and at defensive tackle.

Because the conference was realigned, Frankford and Washington can meet only in the playoffs.

Moving up a class is Imhotep Charter, which rolled through the league last year with a high-powered offense that averaged more than 53 points against conference opponents.

The Panthers looked unbeatable in the PIAA Class AA playoffs, giving up only eight total points in the first three rounds of the state tournament, but then faltered in the final, losing to South Fayette.

For third-year coach Albie Crosby, the game at Hersheypark Stadium was both a bitter and sweet moment.

"That is a major fuel to our fire for this upcoming season," Crosby said. "I'm very, very excited."

With a bevy of talent back, including senior wide receiver and Maryland recruit D.J. Moore (6 feet, 180), senior dual-threat quarterback Andre Dreuitt-Parks (6-2, 185), and senior outside linebacker Shaquille Jones (6-2, 195), look for Imhotep to remain a powerhouse.

The Panthers will compete in Class AAA, and that is why Crosby continues to schedule tough nonleague games for his squad, including out-of-state contests that help his team get used to traveling and preparing on the road - things that come in handy during the state playoffs.

Moving up from Class AAA to AAAA is Martin Luther King, which went 10-3 last season en route to a Public League championship and a berth in the state tournament, in which it lost to eventual state champion Archbishop Wood.

The Golden Cougars are in the same division as Washington, and the league race could be decided Oct. 24 when King hosts the Eagles at 6 p.m. at Johnston Stadium in Mount Airy.

In Class AA, a former Imhotep Panther will make plays for Del-Val Charter, as senior running back Nasir Bonner has transferred. Other players to watch for the Warriors are junior offensive tackle Mikal Cherry (6-5, 295) and senior wideouts Dwine Walls (5-8, 173) and Jeff Sampson (5-9, 167).

Troy Gore is the Warriors' new coach and looks to improve upon Del-Val's seven-loss season of last year. The squad's Oct. 18 game against Prep Charter - the last AA league contest of the regular season - could prove pivotal.

Mike Frederick would get updates the day after every Neshaminy football game to find out how the team did, which squad the Redskins had knocked off, and what players stood out on the way to the District 1 Class AAAA championship.

While he couldn't get to any games because of his young children, Frederick kept a close eye on the program, and continued to do so as he waited for the school to select a new head coach after Mark Schmidt resigned.

He just never thought he'd be the one to take over the program.

"The opportunity felt too good to be true," said Frederick, who graduated from Neshaminy in 1990 and played five seasons in the NFL. "It's a big deal to me."

From following last year's team, Frederick knew he inherited an inexperienced Neshaminy squad (13-2 overall, 6-1 league) that returns only four starters, but he finds continuity in the seven assistants who remained on staff and will run the same systems.

Villanova recruit D'Andre Pollard is one of the returning starters. He ran for 2,929 yards and 39 touchdowns last year. Denzel Hughes and Boniface Stevens are expected to be significant contributors as wide receivers and defensive backs.

Some of Neshaminy's toughest competition in the realigned Suburban One National includes North Penn, Pennsbury, Pennridge, and Abington.

North Penn (10-4, 7-0) lost three difficult nonconference games last year before reeling off 10 straight wins until Neshaminy topped the Knights in the district final. North Penn returns Nyfease West, who ran for 1,596 yards last year as a sophomore. He will run behind an experienced offensive line led by 6-foot-2, 290-pound senior Frank Tranzilli.

Rutgers recruit Charles Snorweah averaged more than 11 yards per rush on his way to 1,522 yards and 22 touchdowns last year to lead Pennsbury (10-2, 7-0) to a National Conference championship. In total, the Falcons bring back 13 starters, including Snorweah.

Pennridge (8-4, 4-3) will move on from Poppy Yoder Field after 85 years to a new turf field on its campus, but seeing Mike Class go might be even tougher. Class, a freshman at West Chester, ran for more than 50 touchdowns in the last two seasons. Imeir Simmons, Joe Unangst, and Matt Firuta will play running back.

Abington (10-4, 5-2) also lost a key running back, Kutztown freshman Craig Reynolds, who ran for more than 2,000 yards and 30 TDs last year. Unlike Pennridge, Abington will shift to the air this season to fill the void. Junior QB David Kretschman started down the stretch last year and returns as the starter. His primary target likely will be senior Jordan Neely, a shifty slot receiver.

American Conference. Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-3, 7-0) wants to run the table in the American for the fourth straight year. Virginia recruit Ryan Bischoff mans both lines, and junior Nafeese Nasir will be the primary back.

The Colonials could be challenged by Upper Dublin or Wissahickon. Upper Dublin (9-2, 6-1) features only eight seniors but brings back RB John Lee, who scored 15 touchdowns last year. Senior Josh Smith returns for Wissahickon (6-4, 5-2) after taking 78 carries for 600 yards and throwing for 184 yards on 17 attempts last year.

Continental Conference. Central Bucks West (9-3, 6-1) finished second in the conference last year. This season, it is not as deep at the skill positions but should be stronger on the lines, anchored by senior Brian Miller.

QB Brandon McIlwain is ESPN's 29th-ranked player in the Class of 2016 and will lead a strong Council Rock North team (7-4, 4-3) after he threw for 1,609 yards and 13 TDs last year.

Alex Gibson ran for 1,200 yards as a sophomore last year for Central Bucks East (4-6, 3-4), which finished fourth in the conference.

When Carnel Harley joined the Academy of the New Church football team before the fourth game last season, it was obvious to coach Ty Klippenstein that the 6-foot-6, 200-pound wide receiver and defensive end needed to be on the field as much and as soon as possible for the Lions.

That realization came during Harley's first practice.

Now a senior, Harley highlights a dynamic ANC squad that has only improved since Klippenstein took over two seasons ago. One thing in particular that has improved: the Lions' defense. The coaching staff has made some changes in concepts and technique in what it hopes will be a more aggressive defensive group.

Other standout players are four-year starter Shane McCurdy (6-2, 205), a halfback whom Klippenstein called "incredibly productive;" junior tailback Anthony Weizer (5-8, 185), and sophomore running back Kyle Mattison (5-10, 160).

McCurdy packs a big punch, as the senior gets a lot of touches, through handoffs or through the air.

"With the amount of people we can get the ball to on a single play and our depth at the skill positions, we should be able to put points on the board," Klippenstein said. "But we haven't done anything yet."

In the Mid-Atlantic Prep League, new coach Dave Rackovan will look to right the ship at the Hill School, taking over a team that has had back-to-back one-win seasons.

The former Central Bucks South coach helped the Titans earn two District 1 Class AAAA playoff appearances in his tenure.

Junior Trey Humes should see time in the backfield for the Blues, and seniors Colton McMenamin and Richie Tabarrini are threats at wideout.

At Valley Forge Military Academy, second-year coach Paul Noon and the Trojans will rely on skill-position players to help the team improve upon last year's winless record.

One of the most dangerous returning players is senior running back Bronson Szallar. Senior tight end Darius Morgan is a player to watch, as well.

rallysports@phillynews.com