[Stardust]

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll...908200301/

Conner
Coach: David Trosper (24-48 overall, 8-14 at Conner)

Last year: 7-5 (lost 46-41 to Simon Kenton in second round of 6A playoffs)

Players to watch: Senior QB Nick West; senior RB/LB Austin Pugh; senior WR/DB Eric Champ; senior RB/LB Huston Dockery.

Other key players: Senior WR/DB Ryan Delph; senior TE Anthony Boden.

Outlook: With West returning at quarterback and solid skill-position players surrounding him, the Cougar offense should be on track. Only three starters return on defense from last season, so Conner will need to make up for some experience there.

Simon Kenton
Coach: Jeff Marksberry (45-53)

Last year: 10-5 (lost 48-0 to Louisville Trinity in state

final)

Players to watch: Senior RB Miles Simpson; senior OL Jordan Hansel; senior LB Nick Brown; junior QB Chad Lawrence; junior LB Austin Baldwin.

Other key players: Junior WR/DB Zach Carroll; senior OL/DL Derek Piccirillo; junior WR Ryan Winkler.

Outlook: Eight players return on offense and seven on defense from last year's 6A runner-up squad. Simpson, a Mr. Football candidate, and Hansel, a potential Division I recruit, lead the way for a talented offense. Brown and Baldwin each had at least 100 tackles for the Pioneers last season.

Boone County
Coach: Rick Thompson (77-54)

Last year: 9-4 (lost 14-7 to Simon Kenton in third round)

Players to watch: Senior RB Charles Quainoo; senior QB Nate Alford; junior RB Jordan Oppenheimer; senior DE Adam Sunderhaus; senior LB Jake Deason.

Other key players: Senior WR Matt Behne; senior WR John McGarr; junior WR Caden Doyle.

Outlook: Boone County's strength is in the offensive backfield with a healthy Alford at quarterback and Quainoo and Oppenheimer as a talented pair of veteran running backs.

Ryle
Coach: Bryson Warner (41-30)

Last year: 5-6 (lost 24-7 to Lexington Henry Clay in first round)

Players to watch: Senior TE/DE Tate Nichols; senior WR/RB Kiefer Eubank; junior QB Conner Hempel; sophomore RB/LB Travis Elliott;

senior DB Logan Carney.

Other key players: Junior WR/FB Deion Mullens; senior FS Logan Hollman; junior OL Bill Schild.

Outlook: Ryle started eight sophomores last season, so the Raiders have some experience under their belts this year. They also have better depth, with only two or three players playing both offense and defense. There is a lot of talent at the skill positions, including Hempel returning at quarterback and Nichols, a Stanford commit, at tight end.

Campbell County
Coach: Troy Styer (25-18)

Last year: 5-5 (missed playoffs)

Players to watch: Senior RB Austin Johnson; senior OL/DL Zak Koeninger; junior RB/LB Nate Geiman; senior WR Ryan Steffen; junior LB Jake Rebholz.

Other key players: Senior ATH Andrew Eshman; junior DE T.J. Jett; junior LB Joe Sauerbeck; junior DB Cory Hodge.

Outlook: Campbell County must replace four starters on the offensive line and will implement a spread offense. The defense will switch from a 4-4 scheme to a 3-3-5. Rebholz tallied 72 tackles as a sophomore last season, and Sauerbeck will move from nose tackle to linebacker.

Cooper
Coach: Randy Borchers

(9-22 overall, 2-8 at Cooper)

Last year: 2-8 (missed playoffs)

Players to watch: Senior WR Brett Berry; junior WR Ryan Klute; senior OL/LB Cody Johnson; junior OL/DE Matt Schafer.

Other key players: Junior WR Nick Ballinger; senior LB Matt Rudd; senior TE/LB Tommy Earsing.

Outlook: After recording two wins in its first varsity season, Cooper returns nine starters on both offense and defense. Johnson, Rudd and Earsing form a strong group of linebackers. On offense, the Jaguars need to replace their quarterback.

Kyle Brown