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BRADLEY CENTRAL BEARS
Head coach: Damon Floyd (104-74 here and overall)
Returning starters: 5 offensive; 7 defensive
Last year's record: 9-3 overall, lost in Class 6A second round
Key players: Jackson Wilson (6-0, 195) Jr. RB, J'Alan Terry (5-10, 175) So. WR/RB, Marcus Goree Jr. (6-1, 175) Jr. WR/FS, Rodney Williams (6-2, 220) Jr. LB, Knox Watson (5-10, 185) Sr. LB, Gage Anderson (6-1, 225) Sr. LB, Luke Keith (6-5, 260) Jr. OL, Brody Morgan (5-11, 255) Sr. OL, Tito Williams (6-1, 180) Jr. SS, Mason Goree (6-1, 160) So. CB, Fin Mertens (6-0, 150) Sr. S/CB, Don Jones (6-1, 210) Sr. DE, JD Kirkpatrick (6-2, 215) Sr. DE
Season outlook: The Bears have made the playoffs for 12 straight seasons but advanced past the second round only once.
With a handful of Football Bowl Subdivision-caliber prospects on the field - including star running back Wilson, who had 2,127 all-purpose yards (1,827 rushing) and 23 touchdowns last season - the odds are in favor of the Bears raising the bar.
"We have played a lot of younger guys over the last couple of years, so hopefully their experience will pay dividends now," Floyd said. "We must trust each other. If each individual will do their job, we have a chance to be OK. From a scheme standpoint, we have to be able to run the ball on offense, stop the run on defense and win the field position battle on special teams."
Playing the first four games of the season at home should help some of the team's newcomers as the Bears replace graduated quarterback Aiden McClary and settle in three new starters on the offensive line. Keith and Morgan will lead the push up front, and getting the ball in the hands of Terry and Marcus Goree Jr. will be key because both have the potential to make big plays.
Jones, a newcomer for Bradley, is expected to dominate on the defensive line, while Rodney Williams is in his third year starting at linebacker. Team captain Watson is back after an all-state season, while Anderson and Tito Williams are key players for what could be a tough defense.