Outlook: AuGres-Sims seems to have gotten its program out of the mode of having to rebuild every couple years and into the habit of simply reloading.

Despite losing four first-team all-North Star League starters on offense -- including league MVP quarterback Alex Lutz and primary receivers Chad Taylor and Kyle Gingerich -- the Wolverines are looking for their seventh consecutive playoff appearance after making just once such appearance in the previous 15 years. Only Mio has a longer current string in the North Star League.

The Wolverines have only four returning seniors, but a talented junior class that includes new quarterback Travis Byard -- the Wolverines' other first-team player as their third receiver in 2008.

"Travis is looking real good (in practice and the Wolverines' scrimmage)," says AGS coach Dr. Scott McAlindon. "We had quite a few games last year where we had big leads and he got some experience and gained some confidence in those.

"After having played receiver almost every down he knows the whole offense."

With Byard at the helm, a big line, and sophomore running back Connor Pendred, McAlindon hopes to have a more balanced offense than a year ago, when AGS ran up prolific passing yardage but sometimes struggled to rush the ball.

"Connor is elusive, but he only has JV experience," McAlindon says. "Alex was a pretty good runner (at quarterback) but we think Travis could be even better."

All four of last year's juniors return for their senior season, including receiver / defensive back Jonathan Miller and linemen Joseph Dady, Zach Manor and Kyle Shanks.

In addition, juniors Trevor Davidson (line), Colton Liddell (receiver  / defensive back), Alex Ruse (line) and sophomore Tomas Smith (receiver / linebacker) also played at the varsity level last year.

"We feel pretty good about the offense right now," McAlindon said. "We have some experience there despite what we lost to graduation.

"Defensively we have some work to do. With Shanks, Byard and Austin Johnson we feel like we have a pretty good linebacking corps, and a big line, we think it'll come together, but we have some areas that we lack varsity experience."

After a pair of non-league games, the Wolverines open league play in Week 3 with Hillman, which McAlindon sees as one of the league favorites.

"They are probably the team to beat," he says. "And I think (Week 5 opponent) Atlanta is young, but showed last year is an up-and-coming program. It should be an interesting first half of the season."