Key newcomers: James Stout, Jr., (OL/DL); Mike Wheeler, Jr., (CB); Judea Sale, Fr., (LB)

Outlook: Coach Long says the Warriors are a young team that's looking to improve throughout the season and compete at a high level. The Warriors are small in numbers, as usual (23 out this week), and just three starters return from last year's team.

John Carroll

Head coach: Rich Stichel Jr. (third year)

"Like" exploreharford's Facebook page

2011 record: 7-4

Top returning players: Montell Martin, Sr., (RB/CB); Brandon Lewis, Sr., (QB/FS); Alex Gambrell, Sr., (K); Gus Lane, Jr., (FB/LB); Austin Markley, Sr., (WR); Garrett Porte, Sr., (WR/DE); Dan Kelble, Sr., (OL/DL); Devon Ruane, Sr., (OL/DL); Walter Roche, Sr., (RB/DB)

Key newcomers: Paul Lorick, Jr., (FB/LB); Rasheed Gillis, Jr., (RB/LB); Julian Mears, So., (OL/LB); Boomer Walton, So., (OL/DE); Andrew Reninger, Jr., (OL/DL); Chris Truitt, Jr., (OL/DL)

Outlook: The Patriots will again look to be in the title hunt for the MIAA B conference championship. Last year they made the inaugural playoffs losing to eventual champion AACS. The offense returns nine of 11 starters from a year ago and is poised to put up big numbers. The defense returns four starters and will look to fill the rest of the starting positions with JV players from last year. The Patriots' kicking game will also be a weapon this year as kicker Gambrell will have the ability to put the ball in the end zone on kickoffs and make field goals from 50 yards and beyond. According to Coach Stichel, this will be his most experienced team in his three-year tenure at John Carroll.

Joppatowne

Head coach: John Horgan (first year)

2011 record: 5-5

Top returning players: Chris Coward, Jr., (RB/DB); David Moore, Jr., (RB/DB); Dylan Nicodemus, Sr., (FB/LB)

Key newcomers: Kenny Baroch, So., (QB/LB); Montrey McKnight, Jr., (TE/DE); Austin O'Dell, So., (QB/LB)

Outlook: Coming off one of their more pedestrian seasons in the last decade, this year's Mariners, headed by first-year coach John Horgan, have a strong core of returning players, and are looking to limit their opponents' offensive output. "We have six starters back," Horgan, who took over for departing Mariners' chief Bill Waibel, said. "We will be an improved team defensively."

North Harford

Head coach: Ken Brinkman (12th year)

2011 record: 9-3

Top returning players: Nick Tittle, Sr., (WR/CB); Nic Hammer, Jr., (QB); Ryan Feiss, Jr., (RB/FS); Tyler Campbell, Sr., (RB/OLB); Chris King, Sr., (K/P); Josh Welsh, Sr., (RB/CB); Jake Hughes, Jr., (FB/MLB); Tyler Ayers, Sr., (G/DT); Dustin Beall, Sr., (T/DT); Eric Bayer, Sr., (RB/OLB); Sean Jackson, Sr., (WR/ILB); Andrew Siegel, Jr., (WR/CB); Logan Kopeck, Sr., (WR/CB); Frank Kozlowski, Sr., (G/DT)

Key newcomers: Brian Davis, Sr., (RB/SS); Scott Angstadt, So., (RB/SS); Jack Schrof, So., (T/DT); Brian Albrecht, So., (C/MLB); Zach Edwards, Jr., (FB/MLB); Richie Greene, Jr., (WR/CB); Colton Geiger, So., (WR/CB); Austin Bartenfelder, Jr., (SB/OLB)

Outlook: Coach Brinkman says the strength of this year's team will be the athletes and skill positions. "Most of our defense is back and we made some position changes to get more fast-athletic players on the field at one time," Brinkman said. "The biggest loss for us is on our offensive and defensive lines. We were hit with graduation hard, and if we can find five to eight guys who can be productive on Friday nights, we should be able to compete again."

Patterson Mill

Head coach: Josh Mason (sixth year)

2011 record: 9-2

Top returning players: Dan Cardwell, Sr., (RB/LB); Zach Dorn, Sr., (WR/DB); Luke Depasquale, Sr., (QB/DB); Devinn Fisher, Jr., (RB/DB); Alex Hollingshead, Jr., (OL/DL); Alex Hudak, Jr., (OL/DL); Ryan Jacobs, Sr., (WR/DB); Chris Livingston, Sr., (OL/LB); Griffin Marge, Sr., (OL/LB); Jake Martin, Sr., (OL/DL); Trent Olszewski, Sr., (WR/LB); Tyler Oppel, Sr., (RB/LB); Mike Reed, Sr., (WR/DB); Essa Rizkallah, Sr., (OL/DL)

Key newcomers: A.J. Brocato, Jr., (WR/DB); Kynarvis Clark, Sr., (RB/DB); Mark Reuter, Jr., (OL/DL)

Outlook: A 9-1 regular season record is usually more than enough to earn a football team an UCBAC divisional title, but, unfortunately for the Huskies, they were playing in the same division as Perryville, which took the Susquehanna crown in 2011 with a 10-0 mark. This year, the Huskies are armed to the teeth, sporting eight offensive starters and eight defensive starters from last year's squad. With one of the UCBAC's largest returning talent pools, and with two straight playoff berths under their belts, the Huskies will be this season's Susquehanna Division front runners. [This is] a very experienced team which hopes to push for the Susquehanna title, and make the playoffs for the third straight year," Huskies' Coach Josh Mason said.