West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

(PRINCETON, W.Va.)---Defending WVIAC champion West Liberty will turn to one of Division II's most potent offensive attacks in their quest for school's first back-to-back league crowns since 1970 and 1971. 

WLU received eight of nine first place votes and is the runaway choice by league coaches to take the 2010 WVIAC football title.  Traditional power Shepherd garnered the other first place vote and is second.  Charleston, Glenville State, and Concord hold the third through fifth spots in tight voting.  Seton Hill, Fairmont State, West Virginia Wesleyan, and West Virginia State round out the poll.

The Hilltoppers (11-2, 8-0 WVIAC) reached the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals last season and tied a WVIAC record with 11 victories.  If anything, expectations on the hilltop may be even higher this fall after the Sporting News and Lindy's have tabbed Roger Waialae's (interview) squad in the third spot nationally.

The triggerman for WL's explosive attack is senior quarterback Zach Amedro.  The Moundsville native rewrote the WVIAC single-season record book in 2009 by throwing for 4,945 yards and 49 touchdowns.  The runner-up for the Harlon Hill Award (Division II's top player) needs only 1,210 yards through the air this season to surplant former Glenville State star Joey Conrad as the WVIAC's record holder for career passing yards.

TE Ryan Travis was a unanimous All-American last season after catching 104 balls.  RB Kevon Calhoun adds balance to the attack after gaining a West Liberty-record 1,529 yards on the ground.  Calhoun accounted six touchdowns in last November's stunning 84-63 NCAA playoff victory against Edinboro (PA).  C Nick Madia keys the offensive line for a squad that smashed the WVIAC single-season record by lighting up the scoreboard for 47.3 points per game in 2009.

The Toppers return nine defensive starters, including senior LB Clay Beeler.  The nephew of Florida head coach Urban Meyer owns two straight seasons with 100 or more tackles. 

Shepherd (6-4, 5-3) is not usually found far from the top of the WVIAC standings.  Veteran head coach Monte Cater (interview) is the league's all-time winningest mentor with a 161-80-1 record in 23 years at the Ram helm.

Optimism abounds as 38 letterwinners return to the Eastern Panhandle.  QB Kevin Clancy (1605 passing yards) and RB Tommy Addison (797 rush yards) are the featured performers on offense.  Perhaps, the most dangerous Ram is DB/KR Deante Steele.  The two-time All-American owns ten kick return scores during his career.  Brian Taylor and Ben Minturn are a formidable pair at linebacker.

Charleston (9-2, 6-2) narrowly missed the post-season last season.  The Golden Eagles want to take the next step after starting 8-0 in 2009, but close losses down the stretch to West Liberty and Glenville State derailed UC's playoff hopes.

Head coach Tony DeMeo (interview) has nine players that received starting time for last season's offense that averaged just under 40 points per game.  However, the Golden Eagle triple gun attack must replace three-year starting quarterback DaRante Hunter.

Guards Josh Harvey and David Espinal, tackle Ryan Carter, and center Derek Pauley should provide UC with a solid offensive line.  WR Andre Higgins had a team-high 35 receptions last season and caught nine of the Golden Eagle's 15 touchdowns through the air.  Junior Blaine Wilson and freshman Dorian Curry are the top candidates to take over at quarterback.

Glenville State (7-4, 6-2) is usually among the conference's top squads, but it could be tough to get a read on the 2010 Pioneers.  Head coach Alan Fiddler (interview) saw seven offensive and ten defensive starters depart after last season, so newcomers will play a big role this fall at Morris Stadium.

RB Brian Harden (923 rush yards) and WR Antwan Stewart (22 rec., 246 yds) are the top holdovers on offense.  DB Darren Moore, who made 61 stops in 2009, is the lone returning defensive starter.  The Pioneer rookies will have to step up quickly against a schedule that pits GSC versus Division II playoff squads North Alabama, UNC Pembroke, and West Liberty in the season's first six weeks.

Concord (6-5, 4-4) made a remarkable turnaround in 2009 after going winless in 2008.  Head coach Mike Kellar (interview) cemented his reputation as an offensive guru as the Mountain Lions registered 33.2 points per game last season.

WR Thomas Mayo led Division II in receiving yards per game with 124.4 yards each outing.  RB Brian Kennedy topped the WVIAC with 136.8 rush yards per game and added 17 touchdowns on the ground.  The Mountain Lions hope to have quarterback Zack Grossi around for a full campaign.  The Florida native racked up nine touchdown passes and 784 pass yards in just over two games of action before suffering a season-ending knee injury in a victory over West Virginia Wesleyan.

Seton Hill (1-10, 0-8) suffered through a nearly-biblical plague of injuries in 2009 as head coach Joel Dolinski's (interview) Griffins fell back to earth following an NCAA playoff appearance and 10-win season in 2008.

Hopes for a bounceback season could hinge on the strong right arm of junior D.J. Lenehan, who passed for 1930 yards in his first year at SHU after transferring from Toledo.  Seniors Jim Funk and T.J. Seftas are among four offensive linemen with starting experience.  TE Zach Delo (14 rec.) is one of the WVIAC's tops at his position. LB Nick McGahagan recorded 15 tackles for loss in 2009, but the Griffins must tighten up a defense that allowed 40.2 points per game last year to climb back into the thick of the WVIAC race.

Fairmont State (3-8, 3-5) has seven starters back on each side of the ball.  Senior RB Doug Brazill is a bruising runner, while WR Perry Baker looks to recover the form that garnered first team All-WVIAC honors for him in 2008.  Former Robert C. Byrd HS coach Bryan Fisher, the brother of Florida State's Jimbo Fisher, takes over the offensive coordinator duties in an effort to kickstart the Falcon attack.

The defense has been a strength for FSU during head coach Mike Lopez's (interview) three seasons.  2009 first team all-conference performers DE Luke Black and DB Dewey McDonald are two of the WVIAC's top defenders.  LB Greg Underwood contributed eight tackles for loss and three interceptions in 2009.

West Virginia Wesleyan (2-8, 2-6) will make the transition from a Wing-T squad to a wide-open spread attack in head coach Dennis Creehan's (interview) second season.  Expect to see plenty of footballs in the air as former Texas Tech assistant coach Gary Goff grabs the reins of the Bobcat offense.  Junior Jon Meadows (54 rec., 789 yards) provides a quality target for quarterbacks Zane Zebrasky and Adam Neugebauer.

The defensive front could be a strength for the Wesleyan stop troops.  Tackle Mike Price provides a firm foundation for the front wall, while speed-rushing end Jonas Celian racked up seven sacks during his freshman campaign.

West Virginia State (3-7, 2-6) has a league-low 12 lettermen back from last season's squad, so head coach Earl Monroe (interview) will look to work newcomers into crucial roles for the Jackets.

WR Jermain King is one of the best pass catchers in the region after grabbing 53 receptions in 2009.  RB Fabian Payne led WVSU with 338 rush yards last year.  DL Elisha Merchant and DB Ryan Smoot are the top holdovers for the Yellow Jacket defense.

Complete poll results follow: