Clinton High School football coach Chris Hammer doesn't necessarily believe his own roster. If he did, Hammer would be entering today's season opener at Argenta-Oreana with a mere five senior lettermen. Instead, the third-year Maroons' coach is eyeing improvement over a 3-6 record in 2006. | Team facts

"We're junior dominated, but it's almost like they're seniors because most of them started last year," Hammer said. "Overall, this will be the best team we've had in the three years I've been here."

Clinton's experienced defense features Nick Chandler, Ian Dejaynes and Drew Torbert at linebacker, Steven Scharff, Patrick Scharff, Dusten Hubble and Kevin Raines up front with Colin Duling, Cameron Cisco and Greg Beasley in the secondary.

Both Scharffs and Matt Runyen will be blocking for quarterback Ross Bruenger and running backs Cody Thomas and Dejaynes.

Hubble has been moved to tight end with Jorden Hamblen, Cisco and Beasley at wide receiver.

"We've got some big guys, so we want to run the ball. We've got good receivers and quarterbacks, but it's a lot safer to run than pass," said Hammer. "If we can stay injury free and the kids stay focused, we should be in good shape."

<;b>Lincoln<;/b>

Lincoln looks to make strides in Coach Jared Shaner's second year. The Railsplitters were 2-7 last season.

"It's kind of what we've been preaching to the kids, try to improve every time you step on the field," Shaner said. "I definitely think we have the potential to see a big improvement from 2-7. We're quite a ways ahead of where we were last year. Obviously, that's a very positive thing."

Leading Lincoln's flexbone offense is quarterback Jacob Harnacke. "He's more comfortable in the offense and more comfortable in a leadership role," said Shaner. "It's a huge benefit for us to have him back there."

Senior running back Fred Dorsey wrestles at 130 pounds and plays football at just 145 but rushed for nearly 800 yards last season. Wes Neece also will help in the backfield with Kyle Young and Kyle Frick at receiver.

John Fink, a 210-pound senior, returns as a starter on both lines. Andrew Rogers, Cale Dahm, Neece and Frick will man the secondary.

"Last year I kind of felt like I was creating everything for the first time, coming up with practice plans," Shaner said. "The kids had never run something like our offense before. Getting the terminology and timing down, early in the season last year we had a lot of miscues and fumbles. We're not seeing that quite as much."

<;b>Streator<;/b>

The Bulldogs welcome back just five lettermen, all seniors, from a 2-7 team.

"But they are all outstanding players," Streator coach Kelly Kane said. "I'm very pleased with how much those five guys have improved."

Matt Bowman should contribute at running back and cornerback, Jake Strabala will be a slot receiver, 220-pound Tyler Goff is a defensive end, Ben Liptak mans wide receiver and cornerback positions and Kyle Erschen could play tight end or split end.

Junior Derek Schneeman and senior Ryan Pfalzgraf are battling for the quarterback job with Pfalzgraf also a possibility at receiver.

Two sophomores, 290-pound Jake Petges and 300-pound Bob Eccleston, will be part of the offensive line picture along with junior Julio Orozco, senior Ryan Zmia, junior Chad Lucas, junior Matt Murphy and senior Scott Henson.

Dustin Moore and Marlin Washington will be factors at fullback and linebacker. The defense also will feature Curtis Davis at linebacker, Coltan Davis and Neal Turner at cornerback and Jaron Burash and Bob Sphar at safety.

"We're a very young team. Interestingly enough, they're not playing like young kids," said Kane. "There's a sense of urgency to them."

<;b>Dwight<;/b>

Fifth-year Dwight coach Erik Black hopes improved quickness will help his team overcome huge graduation losses.

"We lost about 90 percent of our offensive production from last year, and we also lost quite a bit of defensive production as well," said Black, whose 2006 team was 5-5 with a first-round loss in the Class 3A playoffs. "We had a pretty good club last year, but I think we're more athletic all the way across the line and in the backfield."

Wide receiver Dan Thompson and lineman Waylon Holland are the lone returning offensive starters. Junior Josh Hall takes over at quarterback.

"He (Hall) is not real big, but he's fast. He'll do a good job," Black said. "I think we'll be able to do more in the perimeter game and make teams defend a little more. We're a little more versatile than we have been in the past."

Dan Grubbs will be at tailback with Chris Stewart and Jake Opyed at fullback. Holland will be joined on the line by Joey Wiemken, Joe Briner and James Vick.

Thompson earned all-Interstate Eight Conference honors at outside linebacker last season after intercepting six passes. Holland returns at the other outside linebacker spot as does Cody Doran at cornerback. Jake Fjelde, a 6-5, 345-pound senior, and Stewart will anchor the defensive front.

"I think we're good enough to compete with pretty much everybody in the conference," said Black. "Hopefully, we'll be there in the fourth quarter with a chance to win in every game."