1. Bishop Chatard (11-2 last season): Vince Lorenzano's Trojans appeared to be on their way to a third straight Class 3A championship in 2008 when they were tripped up at Evansville Memorial at semistate. Chatard's typically strong running game will be anchored by senior running back Ari Pappas, who rushed for 1,633 yards and 27 touchdowns last year. Junior Drew McDonald (770 yards, 10 TDs) is also back. Senior George Van Vliet will make his debut as starting quarterback.

2. Brebeuf Jesuit (7-3 last season): Coach Ryan Gallogly's spread offense clicked last year with Evan Kroot, a senior this season, rushing for 1,580 yards. Quarterback Aloyis Gray saw playing time as a freshman and returns as the starter in 2009. The offensive line returns only two starters, but the Braves have experience at receiver with seniors Ryan Huguenard and Austin Bruen. A tough sectional includes Bishop Chatard and North Montgomery.

3. Hamilton Heights (4-7, 3-4 Mid-Indiana Conference last season): Former Ben Davis assistant Jason Simmons takes over a program that in 2008 suffered through its first losing season in nine years. The Huskies have experience back at running back and receiver with Zach Copas and Zak Carlson, respectively. Nate McCormack and Garrison McElroy will anchor the lines.

4. Indian Creek (7-4, 4-1 Mid-Indiana Football Conference last season): Coach Mike Gillin likes to put the ball in the air, and quarterback Trey Reese did it well as a sophomore, passing for more than 2,400 yards. Three starters return on the offensive line and the defense, which held five opponents to eight points or fewer, returns five starters. The Braves move up from Class 2A this season.

5. Danville (2-8, 2-5 Sagamore Conference last season): The Warriors suffered a precipitous drop-off from an 11-2 season in 2007. Terry Siddall's team returns 12 starters and should be improved, although the offensive and defensive lines will be green. Quarterback Trent Schaffer passed for 818 yards and rushed for 536 as a junior. A tough challenge awaits in the opener against Plainfield.

6. Western Boone (3-8, 1-6 Sagamore Conference last season): Jeff Pearson enters his 25th season as coach hoping for a rebound from three consecutive losing seasons. Eight starters return on offense and running the show at quarterback will be junior Jared Knox, who led the Stars with 633 rushing yards last season. Josh Debard, a 5-7 junior running back, had 600 rushing yards in 2008. Western Boone should be strong at linebacker with Bryan Buckingham, Brayden Beyer, Jeff Pursel and Josh Anderson returning.

7. Beech Grove (2-8, 1-2 Indiana Crossroads Conference last season): Running back Kyle Cruz put up big numbers last season, rushing for 1,395 yards as a junior. Senior Jordan King is expected to start at quarterback again and will team up with receiver Kirby Cook. The defense struggled mightily in 2008, allowing 43.4 points a game. Improvement on that side of the ball is vital if the Hornets are to win more than two games for the first time since 2001.

8. Howe (0-10, 0-6 Indianapolis Public Schools Athletic Conference last season): The Hornets struggled last year, getting blanked six times. Howe came close a couple of times, losing in the final minutes to Tech and Northwest. First-year coach Jim Sturgeon has seven starters back on offense, including running backs Will Carter and Tim Johnson. Quarterback Ricky Bratcher is a first-year starter. Nine starters return on defense. Depth will be an issue.

-- Rankings and analysis by Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep

PLAYERS TO WATCH

TOP PASSERS

1. Trey Reese, Indian Creek: He had an outstanding sophomore season for the Braves, passing for 2,473 yards and 24 touchdowns.

2. Trent Schaffer, Danville: The 6-1, 170-pound senior is a dual threat for the Warriors in the spread offense.

3. George Van Vliet, Bishop Chatard: The 6-0, 180-pound senior is a first-year starter for the Trojans.

TOP RUNNERS

1. Ari Pappas, Bishop Chatard: The 6-0, 210-pound senior has put together a nice high school career, rushing for more than 3,600 yards.

2. Evan Kroot, Brebeuf Jesuit: The 5-11, 185-pound senior is coming off a banner year, when he rushed for 1,580 yards.

3. Kyle Cruz, Beech Grove: The 5-10, 180-pound senior was a bright spot in Beech Grove's two-win season, rushing for 1,395 yards.

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

1. Tim Flynn, Bishop Chatard: The 6-1, 210-pound senior is part of an experienced group of linebackers who figure to make life difficult for opposing offenses.

2. Garrison McElroy, Hamilton Heights: The 6-4, 280-pound senior might be better as an offensive lineman, but he will cause havoc on the defensive line.

3. Mike White, Brebeuf Jesuit: The 5-11, 255-pound defensive end is the leading returning tackler for the Braves.

-- Kyle Neddenriep

GAMES TO WATCH

Roncalli vs. Bishop Chatard, Sept. 4 at Broad Ripple: In an era in which more and more programs are going to the spread offense, Chatard keeps chugging away on the ground. It worked last season in a 16-8 win over Roncalli, the Trojans' fourth consecutive win in this series.

Brebeuf Jesuit at Broad Ripple, Sept. 11: This is Brebeuf's only game against a 4A team and a chance to measure itself against possibly the best team in the Indianapolis Public Schools Athletic Conference. For Broad Ripple, it's an opportunity to prove itself outside of the league.

Bishop Chatard vs. Cathedral, Sept. 12 at Lucas Oil Stadium: Cathedral won its fourth straight in this series last fall, narrowly escaping with a 15-14 win. This year's meeting is part of a four-game slate at Lucas Oil Stadium.