For the first time in four years, Centreville will take the field this season absent the glare of a Northern Region title trophy. But this much hasn't changed: The Wildcats are the Concorde District's team to beat.

Centreville's last district loss came when its current crop of seniors were in the seventh grade, and in the last two seasons the Wildcats have outscored their Concorde opposition, 186-16.

Last year's undefeated regular season, the first in school history, was followed by a disappointing, 27-17 loss to Robinson in the region final. Not only did it end Centreville's string of three consecutive region titles, it kept the Wildcats from a shot at back-to-back Group AAA, Division 6 state crowns.

In that loss to the Rams, Centreville fell behind, 24-7, in the first half. It was just the second time all season the Wildcats trailed and it forced them to unsuccessfully rely on a passing game rarely utilized during the regular season. Entering the playoffs, Centreville's single-wing offense averaged 294.3 yards per game - 266.6 of which were rushing yards.

So Wildcats head coach Mike Skinner has made the decision to scrap the single wing. Instead, Centreville will shift to an I-formation, pro-style set. Not only will that instill more balance, it should help the Wildcats take advantage of a group of wide receivers and running backs capable of spreading and stretching the field.

``We've got some skill players that we've got to get the ball to," Skinner said. ``We're going to try and throw the ball 15-20 times per game and get to 60-40, 55-45 run-pass."

One of the reasons Skinner is comfortable with the change in philosophy is the experience on an offensive line headed by All-Journal tackle Matt Welsh, a senior who has committed to Virginia Tech. Welsh is joined by a quartet of returning starters and classmates up front: guards Tommy Murphy and David Jablonski, center Spencer Mann and tackle Mike Robinson.

That group will be charged with protecting quarterbacks Dan Mellies and Jeff Hood. Mellies, a senior who is drawing interest from the Naval Academy and Georgetown, began last season in competition with the now graduated Mike Toth for the starting job. But Mellies strained ligaments in his right hand midway through the season that limited his throwing ability.

Hood is a junior transfer from Ohio and more of a pocket passer than Mellies, but Skinner said both are expected to see considerable playing time.

The task of replacing All-Journal tailback Kenneth Tynes, who rushed for 1,512 yards and 20 touchdowns last season and is now at Virginia, falls on junior Richard Taylor.

Senior Greg Simon and junior Brian Gleason take over for Curtis Lewis at fullback. Skinner said junior Greg Harris will see time at both backfield spots.

The receiving corps returns junior starters Daniel Bailey and Stephen Tate. Bailey led the Wildcats with 19 receptions for 396 yards and three touchdowns last season. He is arguably the region's fastest player and won both the 100- and 200-meter dash at last spring's region track meet.

Senior Mike Sheil and junior Bud Hall will share time at tight end.

Defensively, the Wildcats must replace seven starters from a unit that allowed region lows of 3.9 points and 82.9 yards per game. Senior Brett Warren anchors an inexperienced linebackers group which lost All-Journal performers Kevin Foglio, the team's leading tackler, and Tony Alpy to graduation. Warren is being recruited by such schools as Virginia Tech, Richmond, Marshall and Kent State.

Junior Matt Morgan will be Foglio's replacement at inside linebacker. Seniors Mike Grossman and Josh Lynch will start at outside linebacker.

Two new faces, senior nose guard Brandon Raedy and defensive end Brian MacDonnell, will be asked to make immediate contributions to the defensive line. Raedy spent last year focusing on wrestling and was the state runner-up at 189 pounds. MacDonnell is a transfer from Illinois.

The early strength of the defense will be in the secondary, where three senior starters return: Josh Burns, Joe Sheridan and Brandon Valus.

Burns has already received offers from Delaware, Kent State and Marshall.

Skinner said he was pleased with his team's offseason dedication, perhaps inspired by the loss to Robinson.

``This team is working hard," Skinner said, ``harder than we did a year ago at this time."

WESTFIELD

If there is a buzz surrounding any team in the district, it's Westfield.

``We hear they are the team to beat," Skinner said.

Not so fast, according to Bulldogs head coach Tom Verbanic.

Last season, playing its first district schedule since opening its doors in the fall of 2000, Westfield finished 4-5, 1-3 in the district. But the Bulldogs dropped a number of close games and the talented group of sophomores that started with Verbanic three years ago give Westfield a legitimate senior class for the first time.

So a number of well-established coaches from around the region have pegged Westfield as region title contenders.

``People are going to say what they are going to say," Verbanic said. ``We didn't even have a winning season. Until we prove ourselves, we're a .500 team.

``Do we have high expectations? Yes. We plan to be better than last year. But talk is real cheap."

The Bulldogs return a number of stalwarts from an offense that was the third-highest scoring unit in the region a year ago.

Junior quarterback Sean Glennon finished as the region's top-rated passer (104.0). In his first season as a starter, Glennon passed for 1,138 yards and 20 touchdowns. But, perhaps more importantly, he threw just three interceptions.

Glennon also has back his favorite target, Paris Jackson. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior is the region's top receiver. Last season, he led the region in touchdown catches (11) and was second in receptions (40).

Jackson has been slowed in preseason thus far by a pulled stomach muscle, but his combination of size, speed and athletic ability has attracted interest from Virginia, Richmond and James Madison.

``Paris is the kind of guy who wants the ball in the clutch," Verbanic said. ``That rubs off on the team a little bit. Any high school offense would really want a guy like Paris."

Last season, Jackson was complemented by fellow wide receiver Brian Vaccarino, himself an All-Concorde District choice. With Vaccarino lost to graduation, junior transfer Eddie Royal steps in as the other wide receiver. Royal spent last season at Paul VI.

Senior Graham Falbo, a starter at guard as a junior, moves to center. Junior Curtis Knight returns at guard.

The Bulldogs' backfield is loaded. Senior running backs Terry Steffens (team-high 707 rushing yards as a junior) and Dan Carmack will be joined by Evan Royster. The 6-foot, 175-pound freshman is the younger brother of former region standout Brandon Royster, who played for Verbanic at Fairfax.

Junior linebacker Louis Corum, senior defensive end Hassan Abdul-Wahad and Carmack at outside linebacker will key the defense.

Senior safety Justin Mosser, the top returnee in the secondary, had knee surgery last week and could be sidelined for a month.

Others expected to shine on defense are nose guard Joe Boayue, defensive tackle Adam Murphy, outside linebacker Jimmy Munse and defensive backs Brandon Dobbs and Matt Rector.

How the defense fares in the fourth quarter of games will go a long way toward determining Westfield's fate. Last season, all five of the Bulldogs' losses - to Centreville, Annandale, Herndon, Oakton and West Springfield - came after Westfield was leading or within three points in either the fourth quarter or overtime.

``Our basic motto is: finish it," Verbanic said. ``That's what we weren't able to do last year and it's something we're concentrating on this year."

OAKTON

Oakton made a return to the playoffs last season behind a defense that gave up the second-fewest points in the region (10.6 per game). The Cougars were eliminated by eventual state champ Robinson, 26-13, in a Division 6 region semifinal.

Back to lead the defense is All-Journal linebacker Danny Prentice, a senior who is being recruited by Pittsburgh, Maryland and Boston College, among others.

``We've had some real good linebackers here," said Oakton coach Pete Bendorf, evoking the names of Virginia Tech graduate Brian Welch and current Hokie Chad Cooper. ``But I think Prentice is potentially the best. He's just got a tremendous desire to be very, very good."

Prentice led the Cougars, who finished 7-3, in tackles (93) and sacks (six) as a junior. Junior Quinn Cooke and senior Chad Grimm will also start at linebacker.

The secondary features an experienced and talented group of multi-sport athletes. Senior cornerback Mike Harn, a small forward on the Cougars' basketball team that reached the region final last winter, is a three-year starter. Senior cornerback Terry Kimener was an All-Journal lacrosse selection in the spring, as was senior Dan Bauers, who will start at strong safety.

Seniors Pat Day and Brian Carr will split time at the other safety spot.

Senior Craig Torbett is the top defensive lineman. Junior Greg McLean leads a group battling for playing time up front that includes seniors Robert Burton and Mike Dripps.

Day is the Cougars' most versatile player and will be used all over the field. Bendorf said he expects Day to take 75 percent of the snaps at quarterback but he will also line up in the slot at times and return punts and kickoffs.

When Day is not under center, junior Andrew Rediger will be. Prentice will play fullback and is joined in the backfield by senior running back Mike Baggetta, whose junior season was cut short by a broken arm, and senior running back John Pettiford, who started the final five games of last season.

Seniors J.D. Morgan and Dan Phipps will start again at wide receiver.

While only one starter returns on the offensive line - senior Robert Charter - this will be the Cougars' biggest front five in Bendorf's 11 seasons. Juniors Evan Lehner, Peter Yang and Jarred Steiner team with Josh Kloc as first-year starters.

The Cougars' combined 115 players on the varsity and JV is the biggest turnout in Bendorf's tenure and it appears Oakton has regained its spot in the region's top tier.

``Our expectations have to be pretty high," Bendorf said. ``If we're going to have a shot to do anything, our play in the district has to be good. And there are not going to be any weak teams in the Concorde District. When it's like this, a couple of injuries or a couple of breaks are the difference between being in the playoffs or being at the bottom."

HERNDON

The Hornets finished 5-4 last season and their losses were to the four Division 6 playoff teams: Robinson, Oakton, Centreville and Hayfield.

The same teams are on the schedule this season, so Herndon will have to find a way to knock off at least one of those formidable squads to end its four-year playoff drought.

That begins in Week 1 with Hayfield. The Hawks have won the last two season openers against the Hornets and advanced to the playoffs each time while Herndon fell a game short.

``We've talked about that game since the first practice," Herndon coach Tommy Meier said.

``Hayfield has beaten us the last two years and prior to that we had done really well against them. But Hayfield is super-talented."

Herndon's strength on offense is up front. The Hornets return four senior starters who all weigh at least 230 pounds: center Taylor Campbell, guard Will Smith and tackles Brian Lindholm and Corey Boyd.

Junior tight end Brian Boyle and senior tight end John Penley also return.

Senior quarterback Jimmy Kimball returns to start with a year of experience and seniors Blake Zavala and Michael McDonald are back at wide receiver and fullback, respectively.

The question for the Hornets offense is whether it can replace the graduated David Thompson at running back. Thompson was the region's third-leading rusher (1,300 yards) and scored 13 touchdowns last season.

Senior Ryan Selestay and junior Brandon Guyer aim to fill the void.

On defense, Herndon will be led by its linebackers. McDonald and Guyer join junior Kevin Grant and senior Brandon Daye to form an imposing quartet of returning starters.

But senior defensive back James Christmas is the only other defensive returnee, so Herndon will be inexperienced on the defensive line and in the secondary.

CHANTILLY

Last season was a struggle for the Chargers. Though they posed a 4-1 record outside the district, all four district games ended in defeat.

But it was head coach Ken Kincaid's first season and change is in the air. For one, Kincaid is now in the building after teaching last year at Jefferson.

``Moving into the building is a tremendous help, I think," Kincaid said. ``It has helped me identify which players are committed to being leaders and has led to better chemistry."

Second, Kincaid has revamped an offense that scored just 42 points in four district games last season. Chantilly will utilize a run-oriented, double-wing approach and Kincaid feels it better suits the team and personality of the community in general.

Junior quarterback Trevor Reaske will be the first to engineer the new system.

``He's a real poised kid that gets the job done," Kincaid said of Reaske.

Returning to the backfield are senior running back Anthony Cordero and senior fullback Marcus Bartley. Senior Kevin Jackson will join Cordero at wing back.

Seniors Tom Schoenauer and Matt Fineman are the holdovers on the offensive line. New starters include seniors Danny Durst and Justin Murtha and junior Jack Butler.

The competition for the lone wide receiver spot is still undecided.

Jackson returns at linebacker. Senior defensive tackle John George and senior safety Jake Patten are the other returning starters.

Kincaid said Durst and Schoenauer will team with George on the defensive line.

Cordero, Bartley and senior Kyle Hanson will flank Jackson at linebacker. In the secondary, seniors Peter Gentile and Kevin Comerford will take on increased roles.

``We've got some quality kids that we're going to ask to play both ways," Kincaid said. ``The next line of kids needs to step up not only in the case of injury but so we're not playing the same kids all the time.

``But I'm just real excited about it. Our kids really invested in the offseason program. And there is no doubt in my mind that they are ready for a return on their investment."