Last November, Whitmer and St. John's Jesuit staged a thriller of a Division I regional football playoff final at Bowling Green's Perry Stadium, a game won with a touchdown in the closing minutes, 14-10, by Whitmer, which then needed to thwart a late drive by the Titans.

With each school returning a significant portion of quality personnel from those teams, it was fitting with play set to begin in the new Three Rivers Athletic Conference that a preseason coaches poll rated the Panthers and Titans a close 1-2, respectively, as contenders for the first TRAC championship.

Whitmer (12-2, 6-0) won its second straight City League title, and St. John's (11-2, 5-1) was the CL runner-up.

"We were used to being picked in the top one or two in the City, and I think this year's pick was based on the fact that we have a few marquee players, and also what our team achieved last year," said coach Joe Palka, who is 46-16 through five seasons at Whitmer. "The key, for me, is that it's a new team with a new identity. We have a lot of holes to fill.

"Last year was last year. We have to work on getting better every day, and now we have a challenge to live up to the preseason expectations. Frankly, the TRAC schedule is a little intimidating."

For starters, the talent-rich Panthers return one of the nation's top prep players in 6-foot-6, 265-pound defensive end Chris Wormley (83 tackles, 12 sacks), a first-team All-Ohioan who has committed to the Michigan.

Also back are first-team All-Ohio running back Jody Webb (1,550 rushing yards, 399 receiving yards, 23 TDs), second-team All-Ohio defensive back Mark Meyers (team-high 108 tackles), and 6-8, 260-pound offensive tackle Storm Norton, who has committed to the University of Toledo.

Whitmer saw its season end with a 23-13 state semifinal loss to eventual state champion Lakewood St. Edward in Massillon.

In the post-game din that night, the disappointed Panthers listened intently as Palka thanked his departing seniors, and challenged the underclassmen to equal or better this playoff run.

St. John's, which had been thumped at Whitmer 49-24 during league play, used that humbling setback as motivation for the rematch in the playoffs.

The inspired Titans led 10-7 late until Panther senior quarterback Alex Palicki broke a 33-yard run set up Tre Sterritt's go-ahead TD on a five-yard run with 3:56 remaining. St. John's then drove from its 20 to the Panther 26 before Whitmer's Garrett Clarke broke up a fourth-down pass by Titans QB Brogan Roback with 1:21 to play.

Roback, a 6-4, 183-pound junior, passed for 2,193 yards and 25 TDs last season en route to first-team D-I all-district honors. The Titans' 6-1, 218-pound senior running back/linebacker Kent Kern, a second-team All-Ohio defensive selection in 2010, rushed for 1,123 yards yards, scored 12 TDs, and made 116 tackles at linebacker.

The TRAC coaches, who were not allowed to rate their own teams in a preseason conference poll, gave four first-place votes each to Whitmer and St. John's. Whitmer garnered three second-place votes to post 46 voting points, one better than the Titans.

"Obviously the new league is very exciting," said Doug Pearson, who enters his 10th season as St. John's head coach. "You're going to be playing against great competition every week and you're going to have to buckle it up and make sure you're prepared. There's no weeks off like we've had previously.

"It's exciting at St. John's right now. We've got the new stadium going in and we've got good numbers in our program. We had a good season last year. Obviously we have a little bitter taste in our mouth from losing to Whitmer in the regional final, but we'd certainly be glad to get back there again this year."

Central Catholic (8-3, 4-2), which lost a close 21-20 CL battle against visiting Whitmer last year, was tabbed for third at 32 points. Fremont Ross (9-2, 5-0), the 2010 Greater Buckeye Conference champion, and St. Francis de Sales (4-6, 2-4 CL) tied for fourth in the poll at 31.

How strong is the TRAC?

All of the five top-rated teams in the TRAC this season have reached the state playoffs within the past two years. All but St. Francis qualified last year, and the Knights reached the D-II regional final in 2009 when they finished 11-2 overall.

Here is a look at the teams in predicted order of finish:

WHITMER

Coach: Joe Palka, sixth year

Last season: 12-2, 6-0 City League

Returning letter winners: 15

Returning starters: offense 5, defense 6

Schemes: Spread/4-3

Top players: Seniors Chris Wormley, 6-6, 265, DE; Jody Webb, 5-9, 160, RB; Mark Meyers, 6-1, 180, DB; Storm Norton, 6-8, 260, OT; Alonzo Lucas, 5-10, 150, WR; Mike Bodi, 6-2, 205, LB; Nate Holley, 5-11, 170, LB; Nick LaPoint, 5-10, 190, DT; Garrett Clarke, 5-11, 180, DB; Nick Longenbarger, 6-3, 215, TE. Junior Tre Sterritt, 6-0, 175, RB.

Outlook: In a word, the Panthers are loaded. Their long-term success this season, if they are to match or surpass last year's appearance in the state semifinals, will be linked to two vital unknowns.

The most important question needs to be answered on an inexperienced and undersized offensive line, which is all new except for Norton. The other what-if comes at QB, where probable starter, junior Tyler Palka (Joe's son) must fill the void left by Alex Palicki, who became a superb offensive run-pass threat midway through last season.

Linebackers Bodi (103) and Holley (55), and tackle LaPoint (51), combined for 209 tackles in 2010. Sterritt rushed for 1,006 yards and 19 TDs, and the all-purpose Lucas had 40 catches for 443 yards.

A big loss not linked to graduation is that of first-team All-Blade, All-City and all-district linebacker Jamar Ridley, who was diagnosed with an enlarged heart and can no longer play football. Ridley surpassed 100 tackles in 2010.

"We have a chance to compete for the TRAC championship with a relatively veteran defense and our core returning skill players on offense,'' coach Palka said. "The keys will be replacing four offensive linemen starters, and how well our offensive skill players and marquee defensive players perform."

ST. JOHN'S

Coach: Doug Pearson, 10th year

Last season: 11-2, 5-1 in CL

Returning letter winners: 18

Returning starters: offense 6, defense 4

Schemes: Spread option/4-3

Top players: Seniors Kent Kern, 6-1, 218, RB/LB; Miles Ashleman, 6-2, 268, OT/DE; Brandon Smith, 6-0, 183, PK-PU; Nate Pearson, 6-1, 255, C-DT; Joe Robie, 6-0, 183, WR/S; Troy Favorite, 6-6, 320, G/DL; Trent Brodbeck, 6-5, 230, TE/DE. Junior Brogan Roback, 6-4, 183, QB.

Outlook: The Titans should be solid on both lines, 26 seniors should provide good leadership, Kern and Roback are a proven run-pass combination in the backfield, and Smith (11 field goals, 38.3-yard punting average) is the area's top returning all-around kick specialist. Pearson's chief concerns are a lack of proven depth at the skill spots, and the transition of a defense with seven new starters, including a completely revamped secondary.

The biggest loss to graduation was Cheatham Norrils, who is now at the University of Toledo. Norrils, a three-year starter, was first-team All-Ohio on defense as a DB in 2009, and as a receiver last year. He set school career records for TD catches (22) and interceptions (17), and was the 2010 Blade player of the year.

"We have an experienced group that worked their tails off in the offseason," coach Pearson said. "That last loss to Whitmer in the regional final left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth. The key will be embracing the challenge every week and being ready to bring it every game.

"We've got some good players and a good staff, and it's a lot of fun."

CENTRAL CATHOLIC

Coach: Greg Dempsey, 12th year

Last season: 8-3, 4-2 in CL

Returning letter winners: 10

Returning starters: offense 0, defense 5

Schemes: Spread/3-4

Top players: Seniors Levi Pickerel, 6-1, 240, DE; Amir Edwards, 5-11, 195, TB; Jarvell Jones, 5-10, 175, CB; Jon Perrin, 6-1, 305, NT; Jim Johnston, 6-0, 205, LB; Charles Hagler, 5-10, 205, LB; Jeff Dew, 6-2, 280, OL/DL.

Outlook: After its run of four straight City League titles (2005-08), which included a Division II state championship in '05, Central was edged out by Whitmer in 2009 and finished fourth in its final season in the CL last year.

Dempsey and the Irish have their work cut out in the first season in the TRAC, with zero returning starters on offense to go with five returnees on defense.

The most notable offensive losses were mammoth linemen Chris Boles and Kyle Cameron, who are now playing in college at Illinois and Toledo, respectively, and the CL's regular-season rushing champion, Calebb Goings, who finished with 1,280 yards and 20 TDs.

Edwards did get plenty of work as the No. 2 tailback, however, with 768 rushing yards. The inexperienced Central offense and promising new sophomore quarterback Deshone Kizer hope to find their mark before TRAC play begins.

"We need the defense to help give time to the young offense to mature," Dempsey said. "We have the athletic ability to compete for a league title, but we need to develop depth for the new conference schedule."

FREMONT ROSS

Coach: Derek Kidwell, eighth year

Last season: 9-2, 5-0 in Greater Buckeye Conference

Returning letter winners: 17

Returning starters: offense 7, defense 7

Schemes: Pro-I/3-4

Top players: Seniors Skylar Reffner, 6-2, 170, WR/CB; Trent Stout, 5-11, 220, FB/DT; Jordan Garcia, 5-10, 185, LB; Donald Carter, 5-10, 205, DT. Juniors Tyler Wolf, 6-0, 175, QB/DB; Dylan Starks, 6-0, 165, WR/DB; Drew Starks, 6-0, 165, WR/DB; Nick Streacker, 6-5, 245, TE/DE.

Outlook: The Little Giants enter the TRAC after winning the final Greater Buckeye Conference title. They were the only team to beat City League champion Whitmer (22-16) during the regular season, but lost to CL runner-up St. John's (45-35) in the first round of the D-I playoffs.

Back from that squad are Wolf, who passed for 1,474 yards, and Reffner, who had 30-plus catches for over 500 yards. Ross will count on a strong defense, led by an outstanding secondary, and Kidwell's top concerns are overall depth, and filling two offensive line spots.

"We have a veteran squad with great skill-position players," Kidwell said. "The offensive line will determine how good we are this season. We are extremely athletic and fast, but we're not big and we're an injury or two away from being a mediocre team."

ST. FRANCIS

Coach: Mike Blochowski, second year

Last season: 4-6, 2-4 in CL

Returning letter winners: 23

Returning starters: offense 9, defense 6

Schemes: Pro-I/4-3

Top players: Seniors Andy Meinert, 6-0, 200, QB; Michael McGowan, 5-10, 150, PK/PU; Hunter Stanley, 6-3, 285, G/DT; Cam Stanley, 6-4, 275, OT/DE; Nate White, 6-2, 225, TE/DE; Zach Kolacki, 6-0, 285, G/NT; Andrew Villolovos, 6-5, 285, OT/NT; Scott Wawrzyniak, 6-1, 210, LB; Jarrod Jefferson, 5-10, 185, TB/CB.

Outlook: After a memorable 2009 season which took an 11-2 Knights to a D-II regional final under former coach Dick Cromwell, St. Francis stumbled through a relatively disappointing season in 2010 in Blochowski's debut as coach.

The Knights hope that dip in performance serves as inspiration for their first trek in the TRAC, which will be led by an offensive front that includes third-year starters at five of the six spots. That group, which includes the Stanley twins, Kolacki, Villolovos and tight end White, averages 6-foot-3 and 271 pounds, and serves as solid protection for Meinert (529 passing yards) and running backs like Jefferson, who ran for 400-plus yards as a backup in 2010.

St. Francis will rely on solid leadership from 32 seniors, a group Blochowski says has great chemistry, and another weapon will be McGowan, an All-City player, in the kicking game. The chief concerns are filling the skill spots on offense, and possible fatigue with four or five linemen expected to play both ways.

"If we get through healthy we should compete for a league championship," Blochowski said. "Our guys have high expectations. They feel they can compete against anybody."

FINDLAY

Coach: Mark Ritzler, sixth year

Last season: 5-5, 4-1 in GBC

Returning letter winners: 14

Returning starters: offense 5, defense 3

Schemes: Multiple spread/4-4

Top players: Seniors Dylan Blunk, 5-11, 181, WR; Alex Schroeder, 6-0, 203, OL; Jordan Widman, 5-11, 174, FS; Ben Kupferberg, 5-8, 169, RB/LB. Juniors Devin Dennard, 5-11, 179, LB; Austin Niswander, 6-2, 180, QB/LB; Jimmy Orwick, 5-10, 178, WR; Joe Davidson, 6-7, 190, WR/PU.

Outlook: The Trojans had been at or near the top in the GBC for most of the last eight seasons, most recently winning an outright title in 2008 and sharing another in 2009. A loss to Fremont Ross denied them a third straight title.

The problem for Findlay in those GBC years, at least in terms of playoff qualifying, had been nonleague performance. While they went 19-6 in GBC play under Ritzler, the Trojans were just 4-21 outside the conference. So, a better beginning is the first order of business as Findlay opens in the TRAC.

The Trojans expect to build around an experienced line, a good receiving corps and the kicking game offensively, and must overcome a notable lack of size on each line.

"The key for our season is getting off to a good start and building confidence," Ritzler said. "To play some of these [TRAC] teams we have to have confidence because it's going to be a challenge. The quality of the teams in this league won't take a back seat to anybody."

LIMA SENIOR

Coach: Brett Lee, first year

Last season: 2-8, 1-4 in GBC

Returning letter winners: 12

Returning starters: offense 4, defense 5

Schemes: Pro-set/4-2

Top players: Seniors Keithie Lasenby, 5-7, 180, RB/DB; Isiah Stinson, 6-1, 225, RB/LB; Tyler Lawrence, 6-0, 250, OT. Juniors Brooklyn Shurelds, 6-1, 190, WR/DB; Davon Allen, 5-11, 155, QB; Davion Smith, 5-9, 170, RB/DB; Tre'Von Glenn, 6-2, 270, OT.

Outlook: Under their new coach the Spartans look to build back toward the school's football peak, which was a D-I state championship in 1996. In recent years, changing times and a downward economic spiral in Lima has impacted this once proud football program.

It may be tough row to hoe in the new TRAC, however, as the Spartans have just 45 varsity players and 15 seniors to build around. The offensive skill positions are stocked with talent, but may be hindered by an inexperienced offensive line. The defense will rely on speed to offset a lack of size and depth.

"Our outlook is very simple," Lee said, "one game at a time, one play at a time. This new league is going to be a challenge, but I think we'll be up for it. I expect us to be a team that you don't want to underestimate."

CLAY

Coach: Mike Donnelly, fifth year

Last season: 4-6, 2-4

Returning letter winners: 12

Returning starters: offense 3, defense 3

Schemes: Spread option/stack 3-3

Top players: Seniors Kyle Steveson, 5-8, 187, RB; Ryan Laberdee, 5-11, 168, WR; Garrett Gray, 6-0, 265, OL/DL; Robert Ulis, 6-0, 250, DL. Juniors Devin Dominique, 5-9, 164, RB; Damon Dominique, 5-9, 161, RB.

Outlook: Donnelly and the Eagles enter the new, tougher TRAC schedule with a team that may not be equipped to handle the upgrade in competition with its present personnel. Only 10 seniors dot the 50-player roster, and eight starting positions on both offense and defense have been left vacant by graduation.

Clay must build around its offensive skill spots early on with Steveson (423 yards, 5 TDs) and Laberdee (five receptions, 63 yards) as the top returning performers statistically. But an overall lack of experience, depth and size will likely prove troublesome.

"We only have 10 seniors and six returning starters, so overcoming youth and inexperience is the key," Donnelly said. "We have a lack of depth on the offensive and defensive fronts, but we're deep at running back, receiver and linebacker."

Contact Steve Junga at: sjunga@theblade.com or 419-724-6461.

First Published August 24, 2011, 4:15 a.m.