Looks like BN-East will be wide open race

While the names Burlington Central, Hampshire and Harvard come up as possible contenders for the Big Northern Conference East Division crown, the reality is, this side of the 12-team league looks to be available for the taking.

Defending champion Burlington Central lost a number of key components including two-way standouts Paul Duychinck (2006 honorary co-captain of the Daily Herald's all-area football team) and Justin Lee.

"I know our seniors are excited and determined to carry on the Central tradition," said Rockets coach Aaron Wichman, whose team went undefeated in BNC-E play last year and reached the third round of the state playoffs. "They learned as juniors last year not only about the game of football but about senior leadership."

All-conference defensive back Dan Hagberg now adds quarterback duties to his resume. Seniors Jason Wagner (6-1, 185) and Greg Dickson (5-11, 170) will be featured in the backfield. Wagner ran for 514 yards and 7 scores as a junior. Wagner will anchor Central's strong linebacking crew.

Hampshire, under 18th year head coach Dan Cavanaugh, will turn to 2006 wide receiver Trace Teboda (6-1, 160) at quarterback.

Junior Joe Moore (5-10, 185) ran for 476 yards and 8 TDs in 2006. Cavanaugh, who led Hampshire to the 1995 Class 2A state title, compares Moore to former Whip-Pur Brad Speer. T.J. Burzak (6-2, 210) is also back at tight end. He caught 26 catches for 358 yards and 2 TDs last year. He was also the team's leading tackler from his linebacker position.

"It's a small senior group and we've known that for a while," said Cavanaugh, who is 5 wins shy of 100 for his career on State Street. "But it's of good quality and it just means that our junior group will have to step up and play right now."

Harvard, which made it to the third round of the state playoffs as well in 2006, has only 1 starter back on offense in senior center Chad Melson (6-0, 195). Seniors Jimmy Cradic (5-10, 185, RB) and Scott Thomas (6-1, 175, WR) also played last year.

Veteran head coach Tim Haak's son, Shane (6-0, 175, Sr.), will start at quarterback. He was the Hittin' Hornets starting free safety last year.

Seniors Ernie Ramos (5-10, 195, DE), Matt Streit (6-1, 185, ILB) and Mitch Linhart (6-0, 170, OLB) are returning starters on defense.

"We've got some quickness, but we're not very big," said Haak, in his 22nd season (124-86 record at Harvard).

Richmond-Burton, under second-year coach Pat Elder, failed to make the playoffs last season. The Rockets will have to replace playmakers Nate Roberts and Jake Vetter and suffered a further blow when they lost senior running back Travis Gunderson for the season with a dislocated ankle early in the preseason. Richmond's numbers are up to 30 on the varsity and 95 total in the program.

"We're got more numbers and our team speed is a little better than a year ago, hopefully that will help us out," said Elder.

Marengo, which has lost 19 straight games (last win in Week 9 of the 2005 season under Greg Halverson), is now coached by Dundee-Crown alum Matt Lynch, who replaced Brett Zick (who is now an assistant at Richmond).

Seniors James Hare (6-1, 210, OL-LB) and Cody Lewis-Hoch (5-8, 175, RB) are key returnees on offense for the Indians, who have twoarters back on each side of the ball.

"Everybody will have to play together for us to be successful," said Lynch, who played at D-C from 1987 to 1991 and later played at Illinois State. "The past is the past here. We don't talk about the past. Everything is about the future."

North Boone enters its second season in the league (1-8, 1-4 in 2006).

The Vikings have 4 starters back on offense, including senior quarterback Alex Beck (6-3, 160), junior guard Colton Friemuth (6-3, 240) and senior running back Josh Lamere (5-7, 160). Three starters return on defense, including senior linebackers Ryan Kasting (5-8, 170) and Mario Rutiaga (5-11, 200).

"We will be more competitive on Fridays," said North Boone coach Aaron Sullivan. "After our first year in the conference these guys have an idea of what to expect and have an idea of the speed and physicality of the conference."

And all teams are ready for another bruising year of BNC football.

"The team that gains the confidence early will likely be a player in the conference race," said Richmond's Elder.

"If we're going to win in our conference you have to earn it," said Central's Wichman. "You have to come ready to play every night."