Prairie View

The Buffalos will be led by 19 returning lettermen, including three returning starters on the offensive and defensive lines — Kyle Haupt, Josh Dowty and Darrell Kimzey. … In addition, Prairie View returns senior Brody Eldridge, an all-Frontier League linebacker from a year ago that’s committed to Oklahoma. … The Buffalos finished 4-5 last year, and will have a steep beginning to the season, with three of its first four games on the road.

Paola

The Panther were Frontier League champions a year agok, finished 9-2 overall and 7-0 in league. … Returning from that team is four all-league selections, including quarterback Josh Strong, lineman Caleb Payne, receiver/kicker Anthony Onofrio and lineman Jordan Karr. … Paola moves up to Class 5A this year, and plays a tough schedule that features seven teams in the 2003 state playoffs.

Louisburg

Coach Gary Griffin has the luxury of a big, experienced line on both sides of the ball, led by seniors Brandon Kush, Daniel Hickman, Toby Gifford and Drew Symes. … junior Ryan Holt returns to quarterback, where he started 10 games in 2003 as a sophomore. … Louisburg opens with two home games, but then has four straight games with tough squads — at Ottawa, Baldwin, at Gardner-Edgerton and at Paola.

Central Heights

The Vikings move to the Frontier League after tying for the Three Rivers League title a year ago. … Coach Kevin Tooley has a lot to look forward to, including eight returning starters on offense and seven on defense. … Senior Craig Pearson returns at quarterback, and has three returining options back, too, in receivers Tony Wilson and Coby Pearson and tight end Brady Turley. … Pearson passed for 1,343 yards with 13 touchdowns as a junior, many of them to Wilson, who had 700 yards receiving.

Spring Hill

The Broncos have their starting quarterback, Bryan Bollig, back after he passed for 622 yards in 2003. … Bollig will be joined in the backfield by running back Kory Barrett, who rushed for 314 yards and had 201 receiving yards in 2003. … Spring Hill finished 3-6 in 2003 under first-year coach Pat Williams, but Williams feels the Broncos will be better because “we’ll be able to spend more time with fundamentals and less time introducing new philosophies.”

Gardner-Edgerton

The Blazers return 10 starters from last year’s 4-5 team, notably receivers Ryan Highfill and Matt Duncan, who combined for nearly 1,400 receiving yards. … G-E also returns four linemen, all seniors, including Justin Carroll, Terry Watkins, Kirk Artley and Nick Johnson. Says coach Matt McLeod, “Despite going 4-5 last year and losing players due to graduation, we believe we are going in the right direction.”