EAST HAMILTON HURRICANES
Head coach: Grant Reynolds (7-4 in one year here; 120-55 overall)
Returning starters: 7 offensive; 6 defensive
Key players: QB Haynes Eller (6-4, 220); WR Kanyea Burgan (6-3, 200); WR Wesley Mason (6-3, 190); OT Calloway Covington (6-3, 230); CB Chandler Foster (5-10, 160); TE/FS Blaine Savage (6-0, 180); DE Jason Brumlow (6-2, 225); DE Griffin Towe (6-2, 200); C Gavin Galloway (6-2, 245); OLB John David Reynolds (5-11, 165).
Team strengths: The ability to throw the ball and score points in bunches should mean the Hurricanes are never out of contention, regardless of the opponent.
Team concerns: For all the experience back on offense, the defense will rely on several younger players. There is talent on that side of the ball, but how quickly it shows up could determine whether the team reaches its full potential.
Staff photo by Robin Rudd / East Hamilton's Blaine Savage carries the ball as he struggles to get free of Howard's London Cross, left, on Nov. 1, 2019, at East Hamilton.Breakout candidate: In an offense designed to put up big passing numbers, Burgan has the size and athleticism to become one of the Hurricanes' most feared offensive weapons. He is already gaining interest from college recruiters.
Season outlook: Four of the five starters on the offensive line return, along with three receivers with starting experience and Eller, who threw for more than 2,500 yards last year. All of that means the quick-strike offense - the Hurricanes scored 30-plus points six times last season - should be even better.
The defense was solid, too, as East Hamilton allowed just 14.5 points per game in 2019. With Reynolds' history of accomplishment coaching that side of the ball, plus the return of free safety and leading tackler Blaine Savage as well as Chandler Foster, a lockdown-type defensive back, the Hurricanes could be even stingier.
Three of East Hamilton's losses were by one score. Learning to get over the hump in close games will be the next step for the program to contend for championships.