Manassas Park had consecutive 7-3 seasons in 1999 and 2000, missing the playoffs both years. The Cougars followed that with a 6-4 campaign in 2001 and qualified for the postseason. Go figure.

That is life in the Bull Run District. However, if the Cougars are going to make a second straight trip to the postseason, they will have to do it without 16 starters - eight on offense, eight on defense - who graduated from the team that dropped a 14-6 decision to Strasburg in the opening round of the playoffs.

``We have some inexperience," said coach Jeff Lloyd, who enters his fifth season as the Cougars coach. ``We have a lot of new faces, but they are all good players."

The Cougars have talent at the skill positions, led by senior tailback Price Ward, who was the Cougars leading rusher last season with over 800 yards. Senior Chris Tanks and junior Ivan Fitchett will also share the load in the backfield. Sophomore split end A.C. Fitchett, Ivan's cousin, returns after a fine freshman season, and Joe Greene will also be a target for sophomore quarterback Zach Terrell.

The Cougars run a multiple-formation offense, and Lloyd says a team strength is its speed.

``We are blessed with kids who can run at the running back and split end positions," Lloyd said.

Ward will also start at safety on defense, but is the only veteran in the backfield. Sam Wright returns to his spots on both lines, as will Howard Mighty, who missed most of last season due to a rules violation. Tanks gets the nod at outside linebacker.

Lloyd, as well as every coach in the district, has tabbed traditional power Strasburg, which has made the playoffs 14 of the past 15 years, as the league favorite. However, some think the Cougars have playoff-calibre talent.

``I would love to win the district," Lloyd said. ``Our first goal is to get in the playoffs." Lloyd says the seniors have an extra incentive.

``As far as I know, no senior has ever finished his career here with four straight winning seasons," Lloyd said. ``That would be great for them if they get it."

GEORGE MASON

George Mason was less than a minute away from a playoff berth, and from knocking off unbeaten Strasburg in the process. But the Rams scored on a touchdown pass with 30 seconds left in the season finale last season, spoiling the upset bid and spot in the postseason.

What's more, 16 starters graduated from that 6-4 squad. But coach Tom Horn said the returning starters are impact players.

``All of our returning players are very good players," Horn said. ``At least we don't have a kid we weren't happy with last season. They all can play."

Junior Matt Williams is one of the most talented players in the district. Williams, a 6-foot-1, 195-pounder, is a Jeff Hostetler-type who will start at both quarterback and linebacker.

``[Williams] has great physical size and toughness," Horn said. ``He has all the natural stuff leadership-wise on both sides of the ball. He is the real deal."

The Mustangs have a pair of solid running backs in senior Eric Powell and junior Reggie Whittaker. Powell ran the ball well in his junior season and Whittaker was clocked at 4.61 seconds in the 40-yard dash, the fastest in Horn's six years with the Mustangs. Fullback Stephen Williams will be the lead blocker for the two backs in the Wing-T.

The 4-3 defense will also rely on youth, with only three players who have starting experience, including tackles Chris Huffman, a senior, junior Chris Epling and Powell at defensive back. Williams is expected to step right in at outside linebacker.

``We have great individual players," Horn said. ``But we have some unproven kids on the field." In addition to playing its usual Bull Run foes, the Mustangs will open with Washington Catholic Athletic Conference power McNamara. They will also play defending Group A Division 1 state champ Bath County early in the season. Horn says the early test will show how good his team is.

``We'll be carried by our returning kids," Horn said. ``We'll only be as good as the new starters. The quicker they come along, the better we'll be."

BRENTSVILLE

Dean Reedy takes over at Brentsville after a 3-7 season last year. But there is good news for the first-year coach - nine starters return, with eight playing both ways.

However, that is also bad news for Reedy, who says the rest of the team lacks experience.

``We really don't have much depth behind our starters," Reedy said. ``If one kid goes down, we lose two starters."

Offensively, Brentsville has some depth in the backfield, led by quarterback Sam Huff. Reedy says the Tigers will run the ball the majority of the time, but he won't hesitate to let Huff air it out.

``Huff has a good arm," Reedy said, ``and we're more than confident to let him pull the string." The Tigers have four players who all saw time at running back, including seniors Jacob Orr, Shawn Ray and Kyle House, as well as junior Wes Basham. Junior Stuart Crane is also likely to get some carries. Reedy says he never has enough running backs in the split-back veer.

``Running the veer, there is a lot of banging going on," Reedy said. ``We'll need all the backs we can get."

Senior Jason Cook will start at tight end with classmate Aaron Godfrey a reliable backup who will get plenty of playing time. Tackle John Jackson is the other returning lineman, and Nathan Scott is the lone returning split end.

On defense, Jackson returns at tackle while House, Basham and Orr head a good linebacking corps, along with Crane and junior Tommy Knoll. Godfrey and Cook will start on the ends, while Huff and Ray will play in the secondary. Stephen Yanchuk, who is a leading candidate to start on the offensive line, will join Jackson on the defensive front.

Reedy says his players worked hard in the weightroom during the summer and hopes that carries into the season.

``The sky's the limit, Reedy said ``I would like say we want to win them all, but that would be kind of foolish. I think we'll be competitive with everybody, and our goal is to make the playoffs."