In each of the past two seasons, Lee's football team has gone into the final week of the season knowing a victory could send it into the playoffs.

Both times, the Lancers fell just short.

Now, with 14 starters returning, Lee comes into the 2002 campaign confident that two seasons spent hovering around the .500 mark have forged a team capable of earning a postseason berth in Division 6.

``We're pretty excited, the kids are excited," said head coach Gerry Pannoni. ``This is by far the most focused group we've had here. The seniors have been in the program for four years and they know what to expect."

It is a long way from 1999, Pannoni's first season at the school, when the team went 0-10. Lee has made steady progress since then with a 5-5 record in 2000 and a 4-5 record last season (4-2 in the district), including a 14-0 win over Madison, the district champion. The Lancers finished second in the district.

Junior Billy Gorham, the starter at quarterback as a sophomore, is battling junior Ken Moreland and sophomore Troy Hamilton for the job. But no matter who gets the nod, all three will be on the field in some capacity, according to Pannoni.

Lee is strong at running back with P.J. Cameron leading the way in his fourth varsity season. Sophomores Kevin Roberts and Eddie Robinson both have excellent speed and will see time at running back and receiver. Senior Rob Spalding and junior Dan Tillotson will also be in the backfield mix.

``We have some nice young kids at the skill positions," Pannoni said.

The Lancers return four starters on the offensive line and all are juniors. Tasnim Tareque, Josh Ronan, Andrew Rutter and Zachary Blanding are joined by senior Phillip Conteh and together make up a sizeable and formidable group that ranges between 220 and 305 pounds.

``We've got plenty of big people up front," Pannoni said. ``We're maybe not as big as we were last year, but it's close."

Spalding, Tillotson, Moreland and Van Luu give the Lancers an experienced secondary. Gorham, Cameron and Issac Woode are the linebackers. The defensive line is solid, as well, with Conteh, Larry Moore, Tim Farrell and Fedele Palmisano.

The non-district schedule is tough, with Edison, Centreville and Hayfield on tap, and there appears to be several teams capable of contending for the Liberty title if things go well.

``The kids have done a good job in the weight room and I think that is going to help their self-confidence going into the season," Pannoni said. ``They seem ready to play."

FAIRFAX

Bill Rechin's Rebels are trying to get back to the lofty heights they reached in the late 1990s, winning 27 games in three years and two Liberty District titles.

Fairfax has endured two straight losing seasons since that remarkable run of success, including last year's 3-6 record (2-4 in the district), but there is hope the rebuilding process has ended and the team is ready to contend again for the Liberty title.

The Rebels suffered a tough loss in the spring when quarterback Nick Worek tore his ACL during lacrosse season and was lost for the season. In his place, sophomores Michael Britt, Derek Chafin and Damon Gowan will battle for the job.

Rechin expects big things from Landaux Scott, who will start at running back. Fullback Owen Schmitt has good speed and the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder rushed for more than 600 yards in 2001.

The Fairfax offensive line looks solid with three starters returning. Oscar Vega is at right tackle, John Lumsden is at right guard and Milton Schultz is at center. Stuart Turner will play tight end.

Aaron Montgomery has fully recovered from a knee injury suffered during basketball season. The All-District defensive back a year ago will again see time at receiver and safety.

Greg Cavanaugh holds down the defensive line, a returning starter at tackle. He will play next to Jay Mitchell. A.J. Skolnitsky, another starter last season, is at defensive end. Schmitt will play either end or linebacker and Jeff Miller is at the other linebacker spot.

``We'd like to regain some credibility in the Liberty District," Rechin said. ``It's tough because this is a competitive district, but these kids have great heart and attitude and that could take us places."

LANGLEY

The schedule-making gods haven't been kind to the Saxons the past few years.

In the first month of the season Langley plays Robinson, the defending Group AAA Division 6 state champion, Westfield, a rising power in the always-difficult Concorde District, and Centreville, the 2000 state champ.

``We'd like our kids to perform well," Langley head coach J.J. Hetman said. ``I think last year we may have been in awe of those teams. This year hopefully we'll show them that we're not a pushover."

The non-district schedule is about the only bad news Hetman received during the offseason. The Saxons may have the most returning starters of any team in the Northern Region, including quarterback Josh Carr.

Geoff Redden returns to start at fullback and senior Sean McGrath replaces Matt Kilpatrick at running back.

The offensive line comes back completely intact with seniors Bryan Walsh at center, Kevin Milks at right guard, Aaron Charapp at right tackle and Stephen Cummings at left tackle. Junior Jonathan Shafran is the lone underclassmen and he will start again at left guard.

Matt D'Agata is at flanker and Sterling Montague, a starting safety last year, will play receiver, as well.

Like the offensive line, the defensive line returns several starters. Seniors Robert Walker and John Quincey are the tackles and Ricky Hurley, another senior, will again start at end, opposite junior and first-time starter Matt Murphy.

One area that needs to be shored up, however, is the secondary. Senior Jared Miller will be the lone experienced member of that unit.

The linebackers are Nick Houston, another returning starter, Kevin Shea and Brett Whitsitt. Langley (4-5 overall, 3-3 in the district) finished the season without a winning record for the first time since 1996 and saw its string of postseason appearances snapped at three. But if the Saxons can weather the opening month they should be in prime position to begin a new one.

``This is a team that on all our grade levels is really united," said Hetman, beginning his second season at Langley. ``Being here in the offseason and with the staff together this year, we're more comfortable heading into the season, more prepared. We have a chance to finish up high in the district."

McLEAN

The Highlanders had one of the Northern Region's best running attacks last season, led by quarterback Justin Cotter, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards out of the option offense.

But after McLean won its first four games of the season, injuries began to take a toll down the stretch. Cheickna Schmitz, David Stucky and Daniel Smith, the team's three primary running backs, all went down with knee injuries as the Highlanders lost five of their last six games to finish 5-4, tied for third in the district, and missed the playoffs after a loss to rival Langley in the season finale.

``Our running backs did a tremendous job last year," said fourth-year McLean head coach Joe Muskett. ``They were so effective that a lot of times they opened things up for Cotter, so replacing those three is going to be a real chore."

Juniors John Andrews and John Markey and senior Billy Stoll are all battling for the starting job at running back.

The Highlanders are solid at tackle with David Goodsell and Andy Kelly returning as starters, and the tight end is Jake Farmer.

Linebacker will be the strength of McLean's defense where Mike Heatwole and David Hale are returning starters. Omozusi Airhiavbere leads the defensive line.

``If we can play well on defense then we'll be in every ballgame," Muskett said. ``But we can not afford to get into any 40-point games."

Muskett hopes to move away from the strictly triple-option attack the team has run the past few years on offense and open things up a little bit.

``This team has real good work habits," Muskett said. ``They're fired up, they're working extra hard and they have a lot of enthusiasm so that should be a strength for us."

MADISON

The Warhawks had a tremendous season in 2001, winning the Liberty District with a record of 8-3 (5-1 in the district) and a playoff game against Edison before the season came to an end in the Northern Region championship against Mount Vernon. This from a program that has averaged just three wins a year between 1997 and 2000 since winning the Northern Region title in 1996.

The core group of seniors that helped lead Madison to that success is gone, including quarterback B.T. Good, leading rusher Tyler Lee and top receiver Ryan Ginley.

But head coach Gordon Leib believes this year's team can continue those winning ways.

``Hopefully that winning attitude carries over from our seniors last year," Leib said. ``But we want it to come sooner in the season rather than later."

Junior Johnny Ayers takes over for Good at quarterback and Donny Geary is the running back. One of the most important additions for the Warhawks is a player that was on the team last year. Fullback Omar Hashish left after last football season and transfered to DeMatha (Md.), but returned to Madison this summer.

Seniors Jon Urcuyo, Andrew Baird, Dominique Frost and Matt Weissenborn will all see time at receiver. The offensive line returns four starters. Senior James Nutaitis is at tackle, senior Brian Lawson is the center and the guards are Josh Canova and Julian Mangano. Jason Slater is the tight end.

Canova anchors the defense after leading the team in tackles at linebacker last year with 98. Geary, Kelly Ginley, Walne Doak and Mike Wilson are also at linebacker. Hashish, and juniors Paul Droke and Aaron Baniowski are on the defensive line with Urcuyo and John Decker at safety. Baird, Frost and Weissenborn will all have a chance to play corner.

MARSHALL

Marshall made itself a difficult opponent to play last season, knocking off Edison and Lee and giving Madison a battle before losing by a touchdown. The Statesmen finished with a 3-6 record (2-4 in the district).

But Marshall graduated most of its skill position players so head coach Pete Salvano, in his ninth year at Marshall, will have to count on younger players at some key spots.

Juniors Sam Cabel and Danny Rafedie are fighting for the quarterback spot. Colton Turner and John Gryczewski are competing for time at fullback and Darryl Smith and Zack Leasure are the running backs. Tight end is up for grabs between Will Whitaker and Ian Garrett, while Sean McVeigh, Neil Kearns and Kent Miller hold down the receiver spots.

Marshall's strength may be along the offensive and defensive lines. Tim Silver, Jack Allison, Tom Gratan and John Horner are all seniors on the offensive line.

``I think our line is strong because we have a good group coming back," Salvano said. ``That's where most of our experience lies."

Billy Swanson and Paul Doup'e anchor the defensive line, and Anthony Dionyssopoulos should be in the mix, as well. Cabel and Gryczewski should be the linebackers with several candidates looking to claim an inside linebacker job.

Leasure, a safety, and Emmett Saures, a cornerback, will start in a revamped secondary.

``The numbers are up a little and we think we can be competitive," Salvano said. ``Last year we went 3-6 and blew a lot of games that we were in. There's a lot of unknowns. We have no running backs coming back, we're rebuilding our secondary. A lot of our skill positions need to be filled and we're searching for the right mix, the best mix we can put on the field."

Marshall will hold its first scrimmage this Friday against Stonewall Jackson.

SOUTH LAKES

The Seahawks have struggled since making the playoffs in 1999 out of the Concorde District. A 3-7 season in 2000 was followed by last year's 1-8 campaign and the subsequent departure of head coach Dennis Randolph.

The new era of South Lakes football will be directed by Joe Trabucco, formerly the head coach at Liberty High School in Fauquier County. Trabucco led that Group AA school to a 12-1 record in 2001 and its third playoff appearance in four years. He was Liberty's only coach since the school opened in 1994 and his teams twice made the Group AA, Division 4 semifinals.

``We'll try to carry [that success] over here," Trabucco said. ``But the coaching is not such a big thing. What it takes is the kids need to be committed. It took a few years to have that happen at Liberty before everything fell into place. As coaches we have to find ways to get the kids committed to what we're doing."

After leaving the Concorde District after the 2000 season, South Lakes joined the Liberty District - a league more compatible with the school's student population. The Seahawks were ineligible for the district crown a year ago, although they did play a district schedule. This season the team is a full-fledged member and can compete for the title - whether they will or not is another story.

``I think it makes it a better situation for the kids, as far as competing for something," Trabucco said. Despite the optimism that comes with having a new coach, the season got off to a rough start even before the first practice when Bobby Burns, one of the Northern Region's top returning wide receivers and a starter for the school's basketball team, tore his ACL in a summer league basketball game last week. He is out for the season.

``It's a shame for Bobby and we're going to miss him," Trabucco said. ``He's left us with some big shoes to fill."

The loss of Burns hurts a team struggling for an identity. Junior Garrett Gray is talented and may take up some of Burns' workload at receiver. He also has spent some time at cornerback. Trabucco could also use junior Ola Adams at corner or receiver and he may even have a shot at the starting quarterback job.

Danny Cidone, the starting quarterback last season, will contribute somewhere, as well, Trabucco just isn't sure where yet. Linebacker may be the Seahawks strength. Dan Smith, William Bussey and Joe Bleich hold down that corps.

After that, the coaching staff will use the final two weeks of practice to sort out the starting lineup.

``You'll never live up to any expectations if you don't expect to win every game you play," Trabucco said. ``There's no sense being out here if you don't feel that way. But I think a real good goal for us is to have a winning record. We need to get after it and see how many games we can win."

W.T. WOODSON

Three demoralizing overtime losses derailed the Cavaliers' playoff hopes last season and sent them crashing to a 3-6 record, 2-4 in the district. Before that, Woodson had rung up back-to-back wining seasons for the first time in more than a decade under fifth-year head coach Mark Cox.

But now the Cavaliers will have to find a way to replace Nick Hartigan, the leading rusher in the Northern Region last season. Hartigan rushed for 1,629 yards on 225 carries and tallied 23 touchdowns.

Dennis Humidy, a transfer from Robinson, and Joe Martin will try and fill Hartigan's role.

``We lost a lot of people, but I think this year we should be able to spread the ball a little more," Cox said. ``We have some athletes we can get the ball to and let them make some plays."

Colin Miller and Jeff Armstrong are back to lead the offensive line. Cox has the luxury of two quality tight ends in Mike Mansuy and Ryan Hamill. Hamill was slowed last year by an ankle injury.

While the offense reorganizes without Hartigan, its workhorse, the defense could quickly become a strength for the Cavaliers this year as all but two starters return.

``We have a lot of athletic kids in the secondary ... and all of our young kids played a lot last year," Cox said.

Senior Sean Ragen leads that youthful group of defensive backs. Andrew Colangelo, a three-year starter, will play linebacker alongside Matt Morrell, another returning starter. The defensive front will be helped by transfer Josh Jacobs, who played at Paul VI last year. Matt Clark will play on the interior.

``We have some kids coming back, but there's not a whole lot of experience," Cox said. ``Last year we missed the playoffs because of three overtime losses. It'll be that way again this year. That's how competitive this district is."