High expectations can be a heavy burden, which helps explain why the Fieldcrest High School football team spent so much time lifting weights during the off-season. | Glance | Team facts

The Knights have come back from a 7-3 season stronger and wiser to the ways of second-year coach Brett Cazalet.

"I think expectations by me and the kids are fairly high," said Cazalet, who returns six starters on offense and five on defense.

"We hope to compete for the conference championship and step up to win in the playoffs a little."

Other coaches in the 13-team Heart of Illinois Conference respect the Knights enough to rate them the league favorite followed by Tremont, Flanagan and Lexington.

Here is a glance at the conference teams in the order they were ranked by coaches.

Fieldcrest

Back to call the signals in Minonk is senior quarterback Jordan Krone, who completed 60 of 111 passes last year for 938 yards and five touchdowns for a team that went 6-2 in the league.

"I think he is going to be a heck of a good quarterback," Cazalet said of the three-sport athlete. "Everyday after basketball, he would come in and lift. He has been incredibly committed.

"He's everything you want in a senior quarterback. He can run and throw equally well."

Also among the Knights' six returning offensive starters is Pantagraph All-Area honorable mention linebacker Josh North, who rushed for 793 yards.

"Josh has improved his strength a lot," Cazalet said.

Paving the way for North will be second-team all-HOI lineman Josh Angelos. Other returning starters are wide receivers Michael DeRubeis and Jake Bane and lineman Robert Kreiser.

The five returning defensive starters are North, DeRubeis at strong safety, Angelos at tackle, Bane at strong-side linebacker and Alex Middleton at weak-side linebacker.

DeRubies intercepted four passes a year ago, but is the only returnee to the secondary.

Bane has the team's best 40-yard dash speed at 4.68 second, while the 5-foot-7, 155-pound Middleton can bench press a team-high 275 pounds.

"He's as tough as anyone we have on our team," Cazalet said. "He's a dynamite player."

Cazalet looks for first-year player Alex Paulen, a 6-2 senior wide receiver, to provide a spark.

Tremont

All the Turks (5-5, 5-3 HOI) may need this season is a good start. They lost the first game last year in double overtime and the second in the final minute.

Nine starters return on both offense and defense to try to set things right.

"It's fun when everybody knows what is going on," said 11th-year coach Lou Wicks, whose 60-man program includes 20 freshmen. "We feel like we can compete."

Wicks' warriors only need to get close to score thanks to Pantagraph All-Area kicker Luke Hansen, who converted a school record 44-yard field goal last year and has shown 50-yard range in practice.

"We feel our kicking game puts us in a good situation," Wicks said. "Luke is very consistent."

Wicks spent the preseason trying to develop offensive consistency with either senior Ryan Chounard or sophomore Bo Vanrheeden at quarterback.

Chounard is the better thrower, while Vanrheeden runs the option better.

Six players with starting experience return to the offensive line including second- team all-HOI guard Tyler Risinger, tackles Josh Marron and Justin Martin, center Travis Beachy, guard Cody Canfield and Carson Gossmeyer, who will move from guard to tight end.

J.D. Vanrheeden and Austin Jenkins saw action as running backs last year.

The defense is led by second-team all-HOI linebacker Michael Galat and Marron, an honorable mention lineman.

Other returning defensive starters are Beachy, linebackers Josiah Imig, Isaac Schafer and Ryan Lowery and defensive backs Hansen and Adam Hodgson. Hodgson will also punt.

The Turks' "home" opener tonight against Ridgeview will be at Hancock Stadium because of renovations on the field in Tremont. The Turks' field is expected to be ready for its Sept. 7 game against El Paso-Gridley.

Flanagan

Fifth-year coach Ted O'Boyle can't remember having a larger group of upperclassmen than this year's batch of 17 juniors and 13 seniors. Co-op partner Woodland brings 18 to the 52-player program.

"That's a big number for us," O'Boyle said.

Last season, the Falcons were 8-3 (6-2 HOI) and came within one win of the league crown. "They know what it takes to get it done," O'Boyle said.

Senior quarterback David Harnish enters his third year as a starter, fourth if you count the one game he played as a freshman.

"We expect a lot out of him," said O'Boyle, who watched Harnish complete 45 of 121 passes for 645 yards and eight touchdowns last year en route to all-HOI honorable mention.

Also back is Pantagraph All-Area honorable mention tight end Alex Detwiler, who caught 18 passes for 319 yards and three scores.

The top returning rusher is Aaron Willis, who gained 663 yards and earned all-HOI second-team honors at linebacker.

Returning receivers include Darin Gundy and Will Essman. Back at their offensive line posts are center Andrew Norman, left guard Luke Folkerts and left tackle Dan Smith.

Among the seven returning defensive starters are Detwiler, James Allen and HOI honorable mention pick Cam Blossom in the line, Kirk Beutke at free safety, Gundy at corner and Folkerts at linebacker. Beutke intercepted four passes a year ago.

O'Boyle said his team's depth will allow him to rotate fresh bodies onto the field as he did a year ago.

"That's a luxury at our level," he said.

Lexington

After going to the Class 1A semifinals, things will look much different for the Minutemen (9-4, 6-2 HOI).

Don Tanney has retired as coach, replaced by former Tremont assistant Mike Castleman. Air Lexington also has departed as well with the graduation of the record-setting tandem of quarterback Alex Tanney and wide receiver Eric Schuler.

"This offense will definitely be run-oriented," Castleman said.

With second-team all-HOI halfback Ryan Hanes returning, that's not all bad. Hanes gained 898 yards and scored 14 touchdowns.

The offense is similar to Air Force's with a lot of motion and option.

"We like it a lot. At first, we didn't know what we would be doing coming off the passing game. We've picked it up fairly well," Hanes said. "Our line is big. They're doing well in practice and all busting their butts."

The right side of the line will be in good hands with 306-pound Justin Blevins (moving from center to tackle) and Ben Snodgrass (guard). Preston McNamara and Drew Homan are back out and will bolster the line.

Replacing Alex Tanney will be either senior Bruce Freed or sophomore Michael Emberton. Whoever emerges won't throw as much as Tanney did, but it won't all be hand offs to Hanes and company, either.

"We're not afraid to throw it," Castleman said.

There won't be many changes defensively as Castleman said he'll use similar fronts and assignments.

First-team all-HOI linebacker Benny Winterland (three interceptions) will move from the inside to the outside to take advantage of his speed, while Freed will be inside. Cornerbacks Evan Leake and Hanes will lead the secondary, while the line will be keyed by tackle Justin Blevins, McNamara at nose tackle and twins Ross and Will Horton at ends.

GCMS

The defending league champion Falcons (8-2, 7-1 HOI) suffered heavy graduation losses and had a couple other starters not return. Still, coach Mike Allen isn't about to label this a rebuilding season.

"Our line is smaller than last year, but we feel we're a strong team and a very quick team and a team that will be playing together," Allen said

Guard Tyler Smith is the lone returning line starter, although guard Mick Horsch has returned after missing the season with a knee injury. Tight end Calab Cook and split end Grant Kerber are other returning starters, while Brenton Fairchild has moved from wingback to tailback.

The starting quarterback will be sophomore Stephan Birt, son of assistant coach Ryan Birt.

"He's been around football his whole life and has a good head for it," Allen said.

Another sophomore to watch is wingback Mike Romshek. "He's someone who is going to be very special for our program," Allen said.

Senior Brandon Luttrell, whom Allen said has been a role model to his teammates in the weight room, is among five returning defensive starters. The others are tackle John Williams, middle linebacker John Snyder, safety Fairchild and cornerback Kerber.

"We have a lot of question marks, but we're excited and feel we're beyond where we were last year at this time," Allen said. "Our linemen are very smart. They're picking things up pretty quickly where maybe we struggled with some of that last year. We have to use our speed to our advantage."

Heyworth

The Hornets (3-6, 3-5 HOI) believe they have the makings of an offensive unit that can score points with quarterback Nick Kronmiller, fullback Jacob Underwood, halfback Jacob VanWinkle and wide receiver Brandon Downing returning. Kronmiller ran for 394 yards and passed for 318 more last season, while Underwood rushed for 518 yards.

But Coach Mike Law knows those players will only be as good as the guys in front of them.

"Our offensive line is all new this year," Law said. "Even though they are going to be young, they are a lot of the kids that came off an undefeated JV season. They are very quick and all have had good camps."

If the blocks are there, Law likes Heyworth's chances.

"We have not lost any speed. Our strength is our team speed," Law said. "We are hoping to get people in track meets."

Heyworth believes its defense is in good shape.

End Clayton Slayback and nose guard Dan Witte return up front, while Underwood anchors the defense at middle linebacker with Austin Friedrick outside of him. Kronmiller and Downing are returning starters in the secondary, where Spencer Campbell and Jase Wilson also saw action.

Fisher

Although the Bunnies (5-5, 4-4 HOI) will be relying on a lot of untested juniors and sophomores, coach Matt Leng knows there is no one feeling sorry for him.

Junior halfback Colten Unzicker might be the most dangerous player in the league, coming off 973 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.

"He's a hard-nosed, tough kid," said Leng, who has taken the Bunnies to the playoffs in each of his five seasons. "Our skill guys are pretty good. Defensively we're maybe ahead of where we are offensively. We're still in the process of trying to find an offensive line."

Sophomore Zach West returns at quarterback along with 6-foot-4 Mitch Elkins at wide receiver. Guard Tyler Flynn is the lone starter back up front.

Fisher has five defensive starters back in cornerback Elkins, Unzicker at strong safety, Flynn at tackle and linebackers Zach Davis and Andrew Taylor.

"There's going to be a big learning curve. There are some skilled and energetic younger kids, but they're going to have to step up," Leng said.

Unzicker is part of a large and talented junior class that doesn't want to wait until 2008 to make its mark.

"We're definitely a little smaller, but we have a lot more speed," Unzicker said. "Now that I'm a junior and upperclassman, I like that role. I think we have a good squad and a chance to take it to another level."

LeRoy

No team in the Heart of Illinois suffered more from graduation losses than LeRoy (7-3, 6-2 HOI). The Panthers have only two returning starters and four seniors on the roster.

Two players the Panthers were counting on - wide receiver Dushon Morris and middle linebacker Derik Vedder - transferred to Bloomington and the state of Oregon, respectively.

"That means we have a lot of juniors and sophomores vying for starting positions," said fifth-year coach B.J. Zeleznik. "Fortunately Marc DeLaere, our defensive coordinator, is our strength and conditioning coach. He runs an extensive program. We are young, but we came in very good shape."

The returning starters, Brett Howell and Dan Mullins, will lead the charge up front on the lines. Howell started at guard and defensive tackle, while Mullins was the other guard.

"Definitely our strength is going to be our offensive and defensive lines," said Zeleznik. "We're athletic and have good speed up front; it's just that three of the five (on offense) have to get game-time experience. But in terms of a physical standpoint, they look good."

The quarterback position is a battle between two sophomores, Zach Morrison and Kyle Eastham. Zeleznik said whoever doesn't win the job will be on the field somewhere else.

Ridgeview

Eighth-year coach Mike Benton said the 27 players in the program are the lowest of his tenure. Yet Benton believes while there might not be quantity, there is plenty of quality as Ridgeview shoots for its eighth straight playoff appearance.

"We have really good kids coming back. We just don't have a lot of depth," he said. "That's typical of (Class) 1A football. We have some untested kids we have to rely on as back-ups."

The biggest difference opponents will see from Ridgeview (6-4, 5-3 HOI) is the size of its lines. The Mustangs won't be nearly as big up front.

"We were three yards and a cloud of dust," said Benton of his double-wing offense. "This year we're a much faster team. We'll still run our offense. We won't change, but you'll see a lot more quick hitting plays instead of pounding it."

Junior Derek Powell, who took over in the fourth game, returns at quarterback. Benton said Powell was impressive in a couple 7-on-7 summer passing tournaments and gives Ridgeview the chance to occasionally throw deep.

Tim Vandegraft will move from fullback to wingback, while Casey Heimer returns at tight end. The lone starter back up front is guard Ryan Billingsley.

Four starters also return on defense - tackles Jake Thorndyke and Robbie Ranniger, Heimer at cornerback (three interceptions) and veteran David Givens, a three-year starter, at strong safety.

Junior Jordan Ayers, who should help at end and defensive back, was a second-team all-conference placekicker.

El Paso-Gridley

After going 3-6 the first year, 5-5 the second and 1-8 last season (1-7 HOI), year No. 4 of the El Paso-Gridley consolidation opens with the Titans feeling "very enthusiastic."

"We were 1-8 last year, so we have nowhere to go but up," said coach Mike Souhrada, who returns four starters on offense and four on defense. "They want to try to get back in the playoffs."

Jordan McKinsey completed 44 of 110 passes for 713 yards and four touchdowns last year and ran for 538 yards. He will focus on rushing this year as junior Mike Harrold takes over at quarterback.

The tailback will be Chuck Feeney, who is a returning starter at linebacker.

Cody Seiler started a couple games at wide receiver and cornerback last year before breaking his hand.

Rounding out the returning offensive starters is junior wide receiver Ryan Augsburger, who also started at corner.

McKinsey, who intercepted three passes last year, also started at linebacker, but will move to free safety.

"Our line is very athletic," added Souhrada, whose blockers will include Drew Keller, Coleman Kangley, Jake Slown, Jake Carls, Jordan Kilpatrick and Geoff Hudson. "We're young, but we work hard."

The linebackers will include Harrold and Dan Kaupp.

Deer Creek-Mackinaw

In the first season after the retirement of highly successful coach Jim McDonald, the Chiefs went 2-7 (2-6 HOI), their first losing season since a 2-7 campaign in 1993.

"Our main focus is to improve," second-year coach Job Linboom said. "We're trying to get back to where the program has been."

Only five seniors and nine juniors are on hand to turn the tide, but 22 freshmen make the future rosy.

This year should be more competitive than 2006, which included lopsided losses to Lexington (54-0), Tremont (44-0) and Fieldcrest (47-0).

"There is no way we should lose to teams by those kinds of scores," Linboom said. "Being competitive is a theme for us."

Junior Josh Frahm returns at quarterback and linebacker.

"He'll be a running quarterback for us," Linboom said. "On defense, he is one of our best players. I think he is one of the best in the conference."

Another all-conference caliber player is fullback/strong safety Matt Taylor. The biggest lineman is 6-1, 220-pound senior Destin Bolin.

Junior Christian Kilby started all nine games at corner last year. He'll be joined in the secondary by Stephen Davis and Garrett Gesell.

Linemen expected to have an impact include Justin Schamberger, Dillon Spencer, Jordan Schertz and Brian Rokey.

Tri-Valley

If commitment means anything, new Vikings coach Josh Roop believes his alma mater is on the right path.

"It's a building process here. I can't ask for the guys to work any harder than they did this summer," said Roop, a Tri-Valley graduate who had been a Normal West assistant the past four years. "All the kids were at camp for two weeks here this summer, and they all lifted weights this summer. We averaged 40 to 50 in the weight room. They want to change the attitude about the football program here."

Tri-Valley (1-8, 0-8 HOI) will rely heavily on juniors and sophomores. The Vikings have only six seniors on the roster.

"We're really getting into it and excited to see how everything turns out," said senior halfback Eric Fisher. "We're excited we have a new coach who makes us work and will get the best out of us."

Roop believes Fisher will be part of "a talented, young backfield" that will start a sophomore, Gabe Cripe, at quarterback.

"He's picking up the option game fast," said Roop. "Some people look at it (youth) as a weakness. I look at it as a strength. We have a great group of skill kids."

Tri-Valley expects to have two or three linemen playing both ways. Leading the charge up front offensively are seniors Andrew Maffett and Chad Fluegel, junior Colby Riordan and sophomores Scott Ditman and Cody Shenkel.

While Roop said the Vikings are completely changing their offense, the defense will remain relatively the same. Roop hopes to use a lesson from one of his mentors with the Vikings.

"I remember from Hud Venerable (at Normal Community) telling the kids not to look at the scoreboard," said Roop. "You're out there to get better and give everything you've got no matter what point you are in the game. We won't watch the scoreboard. If we play hard, it will take care of itself."

Blue Ridge

With eight returning starters on offense and nine on defense, Blue Ridge (1-8, 1-7 HOI) hopes it can make significant progress from last season.

Josh Moody, who played on Blue Ridge's last playoff team in 2001, begins his first full season as coach. He took over in 2006 right before the fourth game when Doug Smith resigned.

"There was a lot of adversity," said Moody, who was Blue Ridge's junior varsity coach. "They bounced back well and continued to improve all season. It took a while to get everything gelled."

Senior Thomas Williams is back for another season at quarterback. Moody expects senior tailback Dylan Houser and junior guard Mike Sheppard to join Williams as the Knights' leaders on offense. The Knights thought junior Johntel Smith would make a major contribution to their running game, but he moved to Indiana.

"We have a lot of guys back. We're still young, but our young guys have a year of experience," said Moody. "We're going to be fast this year. We have size where we need it, but we'll have some speedsters."

Defensively, Moody is counting on senior end Dennis Boyce, Williams at inside linebacker and senior cornerback Jonathan Cox.

"It's a tough conference," said Moody. "It takes a lot of hard work and preparation to compete in this conference."