CHESTERTON TROJANS (6-5, 3-4 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Mark Peterson (at Hobart)
Key losses: defensive lineman Owen Edlen and quarterback Brady McCormack.
Top returning players: senior defensive lineman Roberto Stabolito and senior running back Andrew Goveia.
CROWN POINT BULLDOGS (12-1, 7-0 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Craig Buzea (at Lowell)
Key losses: quarterback Noah Ehrlich and running back Larry Ellison.
Top returning players: senior tight end-linebacker Trevor Gibbs and senior offensive lineman Nolan Cicero.
LAKE CENTRAL INDIANS (3-7, 2-5 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Pete Koulianos (at Munster)
Key losses: wide receiver Trevor Kubacki and linebacker Tyler Becich.
Top returning players: senior quarterback Cameron Reddick and junior linebacker Brody Ramirez.
LAPORTE SLICERS (0-10, 0-7 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Austin Epple (vs. New Prairie)
Key losses: linebacker RJ Carnes and defensive back Keli Hay.
Top returning players: junior running back Reed Raymond and senior linebacker Jack Borrelli
MERRILLVILLE PIRATES (11-2, 6-1 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Brad Seiss (vs. Andrean)
Key losses: linebacker Jeremiah Jordan and wide receiver-defensive back John Peters.
Top returning players: senior running back JQ Johnson and senior defensive back Warren Brown III.
MICHIGAN CITY WOLVES (3-7, 3-4 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Cody French (vs. Hanover Central)
Key losses: two-way lineman Adrian Holley and running back Jamorieon Gee.
Top returning players: senior quarterback Trinaston Hart and junior wide receiver Kyron Hart.
PORTAGE INDIANS (4-6, 2-5 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Tony Klimczak (at Hammond Morton)
Key losses: defensive lineman Everette McLelland and wide receiver-defensive back Walter Mabon.
Top returning players: senior running back Daequon Fields and senior linebacker Daniel Warmick.
VALPARAISO VIKINGS (8-4, 5-2 DAC)
Head coach and opener: Bill Marshall (vs. Penn)
Key losses: running back Thomas Burda and linebacker Brendan Gaghan.
Top returning players: senior quarterback Kellan Hosek and senior linebacker Ben Fedorchak.
OTHER AREA PREVIEWS
ANDREAN 59ERS (9-5, 5-1 NORTHWEST CROSSROADS)
Head coach and opener: Chris Skinner (at Merrillville)
Key losses: wide receiver-defensive back James Finley and linebacker Charlie Sollars.
Top returning players: senior quarterback Brady Elish and senior two-way lineman Ben Novak.
BOONE GROVE WOLVES (6-4, 3-0 GREATER SOUTH SHORE CONFERENCE)
Head coach and opener: Dan Kukulski (at Glenn)
Key losses: quarterback Mark Rowland and wide receiver Samir DelRio.
Top returning players: junior linebacker junior Bradley Aguayo and junior wide receiver Jack Niemand.
HOBART BRICKIES (6-5, 5-1 NORTHWEST CROSSROADS)
Head coach and opener: Eric Schreiber (vs. Chesterton)
Key losses: running back-defensive back Will Shearer and linebacker Jaelen Williams.
Top returning players: junior quarterback Aleks Tatum and senior offensive lineman-linebacker Josh Diaz.
KANKAKEE VALLEY KOUGARS (5-6, 2-4 NORTHWEST CROSSROADS)
Head coach and opener: Kirk Kennedy (at Rensselaer Central)
Key losses: quarterback Diego Arroyo and running back Marco Castro.
Top returning players: senior tight end-linebacker Jaidyn Anderson and senior wide receiver-defensive back Brevin Whaley.
LOWELL RED DEVILS (4-6, 3-3 NORTHWEST CROSSROADS)
Head coach and opener: Casey McKim (vs. Crown Point)
Key losses: running back-defensive back Caden Thompson and tight end-linebacker Adin Wolgemuth.
Top returning players: senior quarterback Brody Kalwinski and senior linebacker Lincoln Schneider.
