West Fork head football Coach Brad Lindley said he believes there is a conspiracy among 1-3A Conference coaches.
Lindley said the race for the league title is too close to call, but his colleagues all got together and tabbed West Fork as the favorite in a preseason poll.
He may be onto something.
"West Fork will be pretty good, but I think it will be wide-open, really," Greenland Coach Lee Larkan said. "It's going to come down to who's good each Friday night."
West Fork, which returns 12 starters from a playoff team, is led by junior quarterback Colton Wise, 6-1 and 175 pounds, who won the starting job early last season and put together a solid 2013. Wise threw for more than 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns last season while completing 55 percent of his passes.
Lindley said Wise has a good understanding of the offense and will be a big key to West Fork's success.
"What we do offensively hinges on him," Lindley said. "He reads things real well, sees the field and is a good leader. The kids look up to him. We're putting a lot on him and expecting a lot from him."
Junior Brayden Burnett, 5-11, 180, was supposed to be an impact player as a sophomore but was sidelined periodically with injuries. Lindley said he expects him to step in at tailback and linebacker with all-state selection Wyatt Montgomery lost to graduation.
"He's different from Wyatt, not a 25-carry-a-night guy, but he's a big-play threat," Lindley said. "He has good speed and good vision. We missed him quite a bit last year at mike linebacker and at running back."
West Fork graduated both starting outside receivers, too, but junior Briant Bowerman, 5-10, 170, and senior Louie Crawford, 5-7, 140, will look to fill those spots.
Greenland has to fill a big void left by tailback Calvin Giddens, but the Pirates have some solid returnees at the skill positions.
"The big thing for us is to stay healthy," Larkan said.
Juniors Spencer Lyons, 5-9, 150, and Cole Self, 6-3, 175, along with sophomore River Rogers are all working at quarterback.
"Cole broke his collarbone in the scrimmage last year and was out all year, but he's got all the tools," Larkan said. "Lyons doesn't have the arm strength but does a lot of things well."
Senior Nick Brooks, 5-7, 175, junior Alex Sizemore, 5-7, 160, and sophomore Michael McAdoo will try to replace Giddens.
"Sizemore is a scatback type and played a lot last year," Larkan said. "He's got quick feet and will be solid."
Larkan said his defense should be much improved after playing several sophomores a year ago.
Elkins returns only seven starters from a team that made the playoffs a year ago, but senior Travis England, 6-1, 165, won the starting quarterback job in the spring.
England didn't play football a year ago but helped lead the Elks basketball team to the regional tournament.
Elkins Coach Thurman Shaw said two-way starter Kelton Center, 5-8, 180, also will be a key.
"He's our bell cow on defense," Shaw said. "He's our heavy hitter with 105 tackles at linebacker last year. He also played fullback."
Kevin Lea, who took over coaching duties at Cedarville in the spring, believes his team can be in the mix for a playoff spot, too.
"Our skill players match up with anybody in the conference, I believe," Lea said.
Abe Hernandez, 5-10, 165, is a two-time all-conference selection at strong safety and starts at inside receiver. Junior Cruz Rhea started at receiver a year ago but will play quarterback this year.
"I think he will be one of the best players in the conference," Lea said.
Defending conference champion Green Forest returns 10 starters from a team that won 10 games, but must replace key losses on offense and defense, most notably quarterback Treyton Anderson and linebacker Dalton Ewing.
Sports on 08/24/2014