It also could mean that there is no dominant team, meaning district championship pursuits could be especially difficult this season. At this point, no area team would be considered the favorite in its district field. Now, obviously, that means nothing because games are won on the field, not on paper.

Time will tell how it all plays out, but it should be an interesting ride. Here’s hoping all the athletes enjoy the ride, too, because it goes fast.

Dr. Masse’s Preseason Power Rankings

(Last year’s record)

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Warrior Run is hoping to build off last year’s 8-5 record as the Defenders enter the Sun-Gazette preseason football power rankings No. 5.

1. Jersey Shore (8-4): Building off the introduction to this story, this was a tough call picking the top spot. Jersey Shore earns the nod based on how strong it has been over the last 12 seasons, capturing seven district championships during that time. The Bulldogs were a play from winning another title last year, but must replace an excellent crop of seniors. Coach Tom Gravish adopted the slogan, “Tradition never graduates,” a while back and it has applied every season there. That will be tested again as injuries have already played a negative role entering tonight’s game against Dallas. The schedule again is demanding but there also is a strong core led by the likes of two-time all-state linebacker Bo Sechrist and defensive end Luke Thompson. Watch out for sophomore quarterback Nolen Pauling who could be one of the year’s breakthrough players. There are a lot of moving parts but if Jersey Shore can put them together as the season progresses it could again be at its best come playoff time.

2. Montoursville (6-6): One of the more experienced area teams, Montoursville reached the District 4 Class AAA semifinals last year and led eventual champion Danville 10-0 in the first half there. The Warriors also pushed district finalist Lewisburg hard and rallied from 14 down to edge Mifflinburg in the quarterfinals. Christian Banks is one of the district’s premier running backs and Hayden Harvey provides an excellent backfield complement behind a battle-tested line. Kingston Fisher and Noah Rakestraw form a strong defensive end combination and Fisher could make some noise at tight end as well. Quarterback Elijah Eck started the final three games a year ago and that experience against three tough opponents could serve him well as he settles firmly into the starting role. Montoursville took a big step forward last season, doubling its win total from the previous year. Now, a team which played in eight straight district finals from 2014-21 has its best shot in the last four seasons of making it back.

3. Williamsport (7-6): Williamsport is hoping to repeat as district champions for the first time in program history and certainly has some strong players to build around. The defense could form a strong foundation with linebackers Lucas Naughton and Anthony Manley coming off big seasons in which each far surpassed 100 tackles. Cordoza Minor could develop into one of the area’s premier pass rushers and the secondary is both experienced and athletic. Zion Hughes started multiple games at quarterback season and could help spark a more balanced offense this season. The offensive line returns most of its starters and most are three or four-year starters as well. Tevin Williams and Trey Damschroder have the potential to form one of the area’s top receiving tandems, and with the line potentially, paving the way for a more consistent running game, Williamsport could more effectively keep teams off-balance.

4. Loyalsock (6-5): The Lancers suffered a big loss during the summer when fantastic running back Dolan Harman was lost for the season after topping 1,000 yards as a junior. A player like that is hard to replace, so Loyalsock will likely try to do so in the aggregate. Loyalsock certainly has some big, strong players to lead the way. The offensive line is experienced, deep and one of the district’s biggest, averaging around 240 pounds. Having a line like that could open up a world of possibilities for a team which often features one of the area’s more explosive offenses. Jalil Coates is one of the area’s premier wide receivers and also could get some touches in the backfield following both a quality junior season and terrific offseason. He also is one of the area’s top cornerbacks. Jeremiah Johnson is a ferocious play along both lines and Danny Dowell is back at quarterback after starting for the first time last season. The schedule is challenging to say the least with Loyalsock opening at Mifflinburg before hosting Southern Columbia.

5. Warrior Run (8-5): A year after making history and reaching its first District 4 Class AA championship, Warrior Run is hungry to keep building. The Defenders have made multiple-game improvements in each of the last three years, but must replace most of their skill players from a year ago. But while Warrior Run took a hit in the backfield and at receiver, it is loaded up front, returning most of a line which paved the way for a 1,000-yard passer, rusher and receiver. That unit is headlined by juniors Jackson Albright and Garrett Williams who quickly developed into two of the best at their positions last fall. Quarterback James Keifer also is back after flourishing in his first year starting. The senior leader has played on district finalists in three different sports and topped 1,900 yards a year ago. Denyn Beachel, Tyler Ulrich and Cohen Zechman all will play big roles on both sides of the ball and Ulrich and Zechman both earned first team HAC-II defensive honors last year.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Williamsport’s Elijah Way takes the ball from center against Central Mountain during a game last week. The Millionaires are ranked No. 3 in the Sun-Gazette preseason football power rankings to start the year.

6. Montgomery (7-4): Writing one of the district’s best turnaround stories last year, Montgomery is hoping that 2024 was just a start. The Red Raiders bring back a talented, experienced group and have the look of a team which could build off that six-win turnaround. Montgomery led the area in yards allowed last season and returns most of the starters who made it happen, including 100-tacklers, linebacker Cam Woltz and safety Trace Furman. Landyn Rine was a first team NTL-II offensive lineman a year ago and helps set the tone for physical lines on both sides of the ball. Although 1,000-yard running back Coy Bryson graduated, Montgomery returns several quality options in the backfield, including Furman, Woltz, Lincoln Miller and Austin Luckenbill, to name a few. Montgomery won seven of its last nine games last season and will try pushing Line Mountain and Muncy for District 4 Class A supremacy.

7. South Williamsport (5-6): One of the district’s youngest teams a year ago, South still reached districts for a 13th straight season, tying Loyalsock for the area’s longest streak. Several freshmen started on both sides of the ball, so while this team is still young, it also has a lot of experience now since only five seniors graduated. Granted those seniors had big seasons, but there is a lot of exciting potential here. That includes in the backfield where sophomores Cade Lusk and Eli White both went over 500 yards. Watch out for freshman Garrett Lorson as well, who could be poised to make an immediate impact. Sophomore Cole Gerber takes over at quarterback and possesses a big arm. South closed strong last year, bouncing back from a 1-3 start and could be a sleeper in the District 4 Class AA field.

8. Muncy (12-3): Muncy graduated most of last year’s starters, including four all-staters, two four-year starters, three 1,000-yard producers and record-setting running back Austin Johnson. It also has a new coach in Chris Persing and most of the staff is new as well. Still, the cupboard is not bare and Muncy could be one of the year’s surprise teams if it can quickly jell. Nixon Lamper and Nick Delany both were first team NTL-II offensive linemen last year and combine with Evan Trostle to give Muncy an excellent foundation up front. Layken Harris could be a breakthrough player in the backfield and Nate Rogers and Carter Feigles both bring experience to a new-look offense which will feature more of a spread look this season. Delany and Lamper also excelled defensively last fall and Feigles, Rogers and Dominic Guardini all excelled in the secondary.

9. Lewisburg (10-2): Another of last year’s best teams which took big graduation hits but could sneak up on opponents, Lewisburg also will look different in more ways than one. After three starters from an imposing line, as well as 2,000-yard rusher Jeremiah Davis graduated, Lewisburg likely will run a more open attack which features strong receivers like Jaylen Walker and Nick Coleman. Xavier Carter is an exciting prospect at quarterback and David Bozella will be a player who could burst onto the scene at linebacker. With so many new starters, it could take some time to build things this year, but coach Eric Wicks and his staff have had Lewisburg playing its best football down the stretch each season there, so this could be a team others don’t want to see come playoff time.

10. Milton (4-7): Despite a series of costly injuries, Milton put together a good season last year and returned to the postseason for a third straight year. The Black Panthers were a resilient squad which rallied for thrilling wins three times in the fourth quarter. Monty Fisher is one of several players who helped make that happen and has more than 1,000 career rushing and receiving yards. Cole Rhodes could prove a dynamic threat as well. Jaeden Canelo could be poised for a strong season at running back and Brady Wolfe is one of the area’s premier linebackers.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville is shown competing against Central Mountain last week. The Warriors are coming off a 6-6 season and are one of the more experienced teams in the area entering Friday. The Warriors are No. 2 in the Sun-Gazette preseason football power rankings.

11. Hughesville (6-5): Hughesville produced a series of dramatic late-season wins and produced its first winning season since 2016. Included in that stretch was a double overtime win against Warrior Run and a late-game 13-point comeback against Muncy. The hard part now is building on that success after the majority of the starters graduated. The Spartans, though, should not be counted out after reaching districts the last three years. It has some nice building blocks with players like Jerry Barton and Jakob Charles, to name a few, up front. Barton finished among the area’s sack leaders a year ago and linebacker Chase Fowler topped 100 tackles. Connor Anstadt was a first team HAC-III safety last fall and will provide an offensive boost either at quarterback or wide receiver.

12. Wellsboro (2-8): The record last year does not do the progress a young team made last season. Wellsboro made enormous strides over the final five weeks and most of the players who made it happen are back. That includes quarterback Griffin Morral who topped 1,000 yards as a freshman. Marek Mascho finished among the area’s leaders in receptions and interceptions and is one of several versatile athletes who will help Wellsboro on both sides of the ball. Kody Enck developed into one of the area’s more diverse running backs late in the season and topped 100 receiving yards in his final game. Defending Class AA state champion Troy again is a runaway favorite in the NTL-I but Wellsboro could be squarely in the hunt for second place.

13. Central Mountain (0-10): Not only was Central Mountain one of the area’s youngest teams last year, but it also was hit hard by injuries and encountered a brutal schedule. The good news now is a lot of underclassmen earned valuable playing time and are eager to turn things around this season. Kole Corman shined as a sophomore linebacker and went over 100 tackles, while Kai Fravel could be a constant disruptor off the edge. Both could play vital offensive roles as well and the line has more experience and strength than a year ago, so things could be looking up.

14. North Penn-Mansfield (3-7): The Panthers closed their season with a thrilling 28-27 win at Wellsboro and are hoping that momentum carries over. Coach Jed Wright was excited with the way his team attacked the offseason and that could lead to improved results this year. Luke Kreger is back after earning all-state honors and going over 1,100 receiving yards. Colton Pellett is an emerging threat who could make opponents pay for doubling Kreger and Jeremiah Lawerence and Sudan Benner could help fill a void in the backfield.

15. Canton (5-6): Canton reached districts for seventh straight season a year ago, but must replace some standouts from that team, including quarterback Ben Fitch who totaled more than 2,000 yards. Canton has two super building blocks in Bailey Gardner and Dawson Burgess who excel on both sides of the ball. Gardner finished among the area’s leaders in touchdowns last season and both flourished at linebacker. The Warriors are strong at the younger levels, so the future looks bright, but this group is determined to make the present look pretty good, too.

16. Cowanesque Valley (4-6): Over the last four years, CV has been one of the area’s most improved programs. It again could make a playoff push after going 4-3 down the stretch last fall. Luke Sottolano is one of the NTL’s best linemen on both sides of the ball and junior Dave Hess is closing in on going over both 1,000 rushing and receiving yards following two impressive seasons. Kegan Lane is a standout linebacker who also has been a team leader the past two seasons and he topped 100 tackles as a sophomore last fall.

17. Bucktail (0-8): Numbers always are a challenge for Pennsylvania’s smallest public school which does not co-op for football, so potentially having more than 20 players this season is a big boost for a team which worked hard throughout the offseason. Evan Ransom could be a potential beast up front and is part of an offensive line which has the potential to set the tone. Keep an eye on sophomore Teagan Stone as well after he made an immediate impact in his debut season.