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Farrell remains the only District 10 team ranked No. 1 in the state polls as the second weekend of the postseason approaches.

The Steelers (11-0) are ranked No. 1 by the Pennsylvania Football News and No. 3 by the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

McDowell (No. 7, Class AAAA), Cathedral Prep (No. 8, AAA), Wilmington (No. 6, AA) and General McLane (No. 8, AA) also are ranked by the Patriot-News.

Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Football News ranks the following D-10 teams (in addition to Farrell): Cathedral Prep (No. 9, AAA), General McLane (No. 4, AA) and Wilmington (No. 5, AA).

For complete state rankings, click below:

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Farrell and Wilmington remain atop the polls in their respective classes of this week’s Pennsylvania Football News rankings.

The Steelers are first in Class A and the Greyhounds, PIAA champions in 2008, in Class AA. They are the only District 10 schools ranked in PFN’s four polls.

District schools which received honorable mentions were McDowell in Class AAAA, Bradford, Cathedral Prep and Strong Vincent in Class AAA, General McLane in AA, and Linesville and Mercyhurst Prep in A.

– Mike Copper

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Take a break and visit the Varsity blog during lunchtime today for the first Football Central live blog of the season. Starting at noon, members of the Times-News sports staff will discuss 10 questions that we posted Monday on the Varsity blog.

If you can’t join us at noon, check back here on the Varsity blog later in the day or over the weekend to read the blog and get our views on the upcoming season.

It’ll be the first of many Football Central live blogs we will have during the 2009 season. Starting Sept. 4, we’ll cover action throughout D-10 every Friday night on Football Central.

Here are the 10 questions we’ll chat about today:

1. Can Strong Vincent reload enough to repeat as District 10 Class AAA champions?
2. Who will emerge as the top player in Erie County this season?
3. Which team(s) have a shot at winning a PIAA championship?
4. Will District 10 allow McDowell to become a football-only member of the WPIAL?
5. Can McDowell replace the offensive tandem of A.J. Fenton and Alex Schmude?
6. Is there a Class A or AA team in District 10 that can knock off Farrell and Wilmington?
7. Who are some of the early candidates for the top quarterback in District 10?
8. Which defense in all of District 10 is the fastest and most effective?
9. Which team from the highly competitive Region 4 will emerge as the champion?
10. Which teams will make the most improvement this season in District 10?

Wilmington, the defending PIAA Class AA champion, highlights five teams ranked in the Pennsylvania Football News Preseason Rankings released this week.

The Greyhounds finished 2008 at 15-1, including a thrilling double overtime win in the state championship over West Catholic, 35-34. Greenville is the other D-10 team in the Class AA rankings as a team to watch.

Rivals Strong Vincent and Cathedral Prep are ranked in the top 10 in Class AAA. The Colonels won the District 10 Class AAA championship over the Ramblers in ’08. 28-0. Vincent lost several starters but has a solid offensive and defensive line coming back. The Colonels are ranked No. 6 in the state, while their playoff-rival Thomas Jefferson is No. 1.

Prep is ranked No. 9 despite having an average year in ’08. The Ramblers created a buzz around the state by hiring Mike Mischler to return as head coach coupled with the heavy recruiting by Division I schools of Shyquawn Pullium has Prep at a top 10 spot.

In Class A, Farrell and Linesville are ranked No. 6 and No. 9, respectively. The Steelers made a deep run into the PIAA playoffs in ’08 before losing to Clairton and Pitt recruit Kevin Weatherspoon. The Lions had an outstanding season last year but lose to Farrell in the District 10 championship.

Mercer and Sharpsville, two teams that could surprise some teams in Class A, are both listed as others to watch.

For the complete rankings, click below

– Tom Reisenweber

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Wilmington Greyhounds

Coach: Terry Verrelli
2008 overall record: 15-1
2008 region record (place): 7-0 (first place, Region 3)
Playoff results: D-10 AA Champion, PIAA Class AA Champion
Top players lost: WR/LB Carson Sharbaugh, WR/OLB Matt Wagner, QB/FS Shane Wagner, C/T Clint DeRosa, TE/DT Dallas Hartman
Top players returning: RB/LB Derrick Burns, RB/CB Sutton Whiting, RB/CB Jake Demedal, RB/OLB Chad Palladino, G/DE Brad Zaboroski, G/DE Ryan Welch, K/P Bryce Wilson
Key games: Sept. 11 at Greenville, Oct. 2 Hickory, Oct. 9 at Sharon

Derrick Burns, Wilmington, All-state linebacker, 1,000-yard rusher

Outlook: Wilmington, under 30th-year coach Terry Verrelli, dominated Region 3 in 2008 en route to District 10 and PIAA Class AA championships. Its only loss came to Karns City in the final game of the regular season before the Hounds reeled off six straight postseason wins on the way to Verrelli’s first state title. The Hounds boasted seven first-team all-Region 3 offensive stars, five of whom graduated. They also had six first-team all-region picks on defense, and lost three to graduation. Despite graduation losses, Wilmington should again be a district and state favorite, as it returns all-District 10 player Derrick Burns, a Pitt recruit who averaged 8.3 yards per carry for 1,487 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns as the team’s main running back. Burns also led the team on defense as a linebacker, recording 62 tackles, one interception and three forced fumbles. Whiting, meanwhile, is a big-play running back who has the speed to break loose on any play. The biggest concern for the ‘Hounds is likely to come from their passing attack. Last year’s quarterback, Shane Wagner, completed 95 passes for 1,514 yards and 20 touchdowns, but no other player saw significant time in the position. Three players, Curtis Bretz, Jake Demedal and Sutton Whiting, threw one pass each the entire season. With Wagner having graduated, Verrelli said he will move Demedal under center to fill the void. Demedal, previously a running back, will act as more of a scrambling quarterback than Wagner did. Verrelli said his biggest concerns about trying to repeat 2008′s success are filling holes left by graduation in his line and receiver corps. The Greyhounds have all-District 10 performers in tight end Dallas Hartman and lineman Clint DeRos, as well as an all-state selection in Carson Sharbaugh. Replace those, and Wilmington should be a favorite in Region 3.

Schedule
September
4 at Brentwood 7
11 at Greenville 7:30
19 Grove City 7
25 at Oil City* 7
October
2 Hickory* 7
9 at Sharon* 7
16 Reynolds* 7
23 at Titusville* 7
30 Slippery Rock* 7
November
6 at Karns City 7

* Region 3 game

Wednesday: Region 4: Fairview

Wilmington's Derrick Burns, one of the top running backs and linebackers in District 10, already has committed to the University of Pittsburgh.

Region 3 was the best Class AA region in 2008 with the best AA team in the state: Wilmington. The Greyhounds blew through the regular season schedule not losing on region game before making an impressive run to the PIAA championship. In fact, Wilmington’s only loss last year was a surprising 22-21 setback to Karns City in the final regular-season game. The Greyhounds return plenty of starters and should be a force once more in the region. Sharon is perenially a tough team but still fell short to the Greyhounds. Slippery Rock almost pulled off the upset of the year as the Rockets pushed Wilmington to overtime in the District 10 championship. Region 3 had three of the final four teams in the D-10 playoffs, including both teams in the title game. Here is a look at last year’s final standings:

Region 3
Region Overall
x-Wilmington 7-0 15-1
z-Sharon 6-1 10-2
z-Greenville 4-2 7-3
z-Slippery Rock 4-2 9-3
Titusville 2-5 4-6
Hickory 1-6 2-7
Oil City 2-4 3-6
Reynolds 0-6 0-9
x-region champion
z-qualified for playoff spot

Key 2009 games: Sept. 25 Slippery Rock at Sharon, Oct. 9 Wilmington at Sharon, Oct. 30 Slippery Rock at Wilmington
Predicted champion: Wilmington