METRO ATHLETIC CONFERENCE Aviators, Poland, Howland favored

The Tigers are defending champs, but Alliance has 16 starters returning.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
One year after joining the Metro Athletic Conference, the Alliance High football team is preparing for its farewell tour of the seven-team league. Will the Aviators find the defending champion Howland Tigers again the team to beat?
Or, with 22 letterwinners and 16 starters returning, are Coach Ron Kuceyeski's Aviators ready to fly away to the Northeastern Buckeye Conference with a MAC title?
Picking a preseason favorite isn't easy, according to coaches Mike Pavlansky (Canfield) and Doug Phillips (Salem).
"Every year, there isn't one team that stands out in the preseason," said Pavlansky whose Cards are coming off a 3-7 season. "But Howland is the defending champ.
Others with edge
"Poland, with its tradition, is always going to contend," Pavlansky said. "And Alliance is extremely loaded. Those three have the edge."
Although Howland has few starters back (two), Phillips, whose Quakers were 5-5 in 2003, sees the Tigers as contenders and won't be surprised if the Aviators excel.
"[Howland has] such a great program and they win at every level," Phillips said of the Tigers. "They and Poland are standouts -- it seems that they don't rebuild so much as reload.
"Alliance was in so many close games last year -- we beat them on the last play," Phillips said. "Anyone who saw [running back] Kendell Davis win state track titles [100 and 200 dashes] knows how impressive he is.
"This year should be a real battle," Phillips said. "Each week, it seems anyone can knock anyone else off."
Phillips praised running backs Jim Shurilla (Poland) and Lance Smith (Howland).
"In our league, I truly believe we go against the best running backs around," Phillips said.
Last fall, Coach Richard Angle's Tigers (10-2, 6-0 MAC) dominated the conference and qualified for the postseason for the third consecutive season.
But with 24 players having departed through graduation, the Tigers have just seven returning lettermen. Their work will be cut out for them in defending their MAC crown.
"Poland and Alliance are the teams to beat. You don't send seven players to college football and not feel it," Angle said. "We certainly are counting on returning starters Brad Lockney [quarterback], Dustin Rose [offensive tackle], Jeff Elston [tight end], Lance Smith [outside linebacker], Marcus Johnson [center] and Chris Machusak [defensive tackle]. These young men will be the hump of the team."
Angle said Davis, Shurilla and Lockney are the conference's best players.
On offense, Smith is expected to get the bulk of the carries in replacing Tony Davis (Penn State).
Experience plus team speed are the Aviators' strengths, Kuceyeski said. His main concern is the offensive line, specifically its inexperience.
Line loaded
Hulea's offensive line is loaded with experience -- center Terry Johnson (three years), guards Mike Cleland and Blaine McElroy (two years each) and tackle Ryan Wetzel (two years).
The Bulldogs were 7-3 last fall.
Pavlansky has 18 lettermen returning, including quarterback Jamie McNally, lineman Pat Donovan and wide receiver Chad Gifford.
"Those three should be our leaders," Pavlansky said.
Phillips begins his fourth season in Salem hoping to crack the .500 barrier for the first time. Fourteen starters, including eight on offense, are back.
Phillips said the Quakers need to mature on defense.
williams@vindy.com