1. Will Clyde 3-peat in the SBC?
Barring any major injuries, I believe so. Look, the one thing about running the spread offense is having the horses up front. The Fliers return 4-of-5 offensive linemen this season and will still clear enough pathways for new QB Gabe Gilbert and 1,000-yard rusher Kade Kramer to win at least six or maybe all seven SBC games in my opinion. This offensive line is too strong, and I think in the end they hold off Edison and Perkins.

2. Can Curt Watson throw for 3,000 yards this season?
Well, the Bellevue senior QB threw for 2,800+ yards in 11 games last year, so it's not like this is that far-fetched. However, the Redmen are going to jump out to huge leads on several opponents this year and Watson won't be seeing time in the final 4-5 minutes of half his games, if not more. The receiving corps at Bellevue is also going to be a little more green than usual starting out, so the potential to throw for a bunch of 300-yard games may not be there right away, meaning perhaps Bellevue relies on Dom DeBlase or Nano Wagner to do a bit more work than usual out of the backfield. So barring another extra game or two, I think 2002 grad Jeff Polley's 3,100-yard season of 2001 will still hold up atop the Bellevue record book.

3. Is it too early to be talking about who wins the Perkins-Sandusky game?
Of course not. Well, unless you happen to be a coach or player for either team (they have bigger things to worry about in the season opener). The first-ever meeting is in Week 2 at Strobel Field on Sept. 4, and many around town are obviously excited this game is finally taking place. No more 'fantasy football' type dreaming...it's almost here.
 As for who wins? Without seeing each team, I'm not really sure at the moment because I see both sides of it. I think Perkins may have a few more playmakers that can make stuff happen offensively and have a decent front line on defense, but then I tell myself Sandusky always has athletes to plug in at the skilled positions and they are the bigger school, etc. Hmmm, don't know quite yet, I'll likely come back to this, but NO, it's not too early to talk Pirates-Streaks part I.

4. Will Eric Schwieterman's broken thumb hurt the Flyers?
Sure it does, but this is a baited question. Obviously when the Division VI Player of the Year is in street clothes for anywhere from 3-6 weeks it's not a good thing, but will it actually cost the Flyers in the win-loss column? I don't think so. On paper they should take care of business against St. Mary C.C. and Tiffin Calvert in the first two weeks, and I had the trip to Huron as a slight edge for St. Paul with No. 8 in the lineup...with him out, I now see it as a toss up because it's at Memorial Stadium.
If Schwieterman misses the Firelands Conference opener at Crestview in Week 4, I still believe they win. Too much talent at the other positions, and the Flyers have handled the Cougars in convincing fashion with six straight wins in the series. Leading receiver Dan Tracht moves to QB in the short term while Schwieterman recovers, and I've been told he's already looking like a natural. Plus, the Flyers again looked razor sharp in scrimmage wins over Keystone and Edison.

5. Edison Chargers: Pretender or Contender?
It seems like this question gets asked nearly every year anymore this decade as it's clear the Edison program is certainly catching up in talent level to the rest of the SBC, it just hasn't equaled a gold prize...yet. I get the questions too...we know they return 15 of 22 starters, nine of which were All-SBC, from a 7-3 team.
But at the same time, five of those wins were decided in the final two minutes and the Chargers were a play or two away from losing those games and suddenly 7-3 becomes 2-8. Conversely, they did manage to hang on and win those games, which has to count for something right? Their three losses were all blowouts to Clyde, Perkins and Huron...now they get all three this year at home, where they are 8-2 over the past two seasons, including 5-0 last season.
Is it their time? I want to come right out and say yes, but let's see what they do against Huron in week 4 at home. If they win that game, this team could be cleared for takeoff...if they lose, it could be a similar SBC season from a year ago.