The high school football season kicks off tonight when Manchester plays Clinton in the Big Day Prep Showdown at Eastern Michigan's Rynearson Stadium.

As part of our season preview, today we take a look at all 14 teams in Washtenaw County.

Earlier this week, AnnArbor.com highlighted the top players in the area and looked back at last season's individual leaders.

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE RED DIVISION

While very close geographically, the four Washtenaw County high school football teams in the Southeastern Conference Red Division couldn't be more different than one another.

Pioneer has made the playoffs for three years running, but can it continue the run with a new coach and a brutal schedule? Saline was also a playoff team in 2010 and will be looking to build on that momentum with a new quarterback under center, while Huron and Skyline attempt to establish winning cultures of their own.

With Monroe County teams Monroe and Temperance Bedford in the mix, will any of these teams even contend for a league title?

HURON RIVER RATS

After a winning season in 2009, the program’s first since 2002, Huron took a step in the wrong direction in coach Cory Gildersleeve’s second year, with a 3-6 record in 2010.

Though it’s Gildersleeve’s third year at the helm, he looks at 2011 as the first true test of the program because last year was his first as a full-time instructor at the high school.

Gildersleeve taught physical education, which included a strength and conditioning class not previously offered at the school. Not surprisingly, participation in the football team’s offseason weight training program more than tripled.

“There’s a lot of things going on at Huron, with clubs and whatnot, so (in the past) after school, people would miss a day or two (of weight training) a week,” said Huron senior running back Luke Denson. “With that class, people could get a lift in during school and it kept our participation consistent.”

Gildersleeve believes the weight program will yield tangible results on the offensive and defensive lines, which have not been strong in his tenure.

“Our reputation has been that we’re athletic, but not disciplined, not physical and we’re working to change that culture,” Gildersleeve said. “When you’ve got linemen who -- last year -- not one could squat 200 pounds, now all are over 400…all of a sudden it changes our swagger, demeanor, and physicality of how we play the game.”

Along with Denson -- who led Huron with 737 rushing yards as a junior - Huron returns senior quarterback Alex Hassan. With a year of experience at the varsity level under their belts, both should be dangerous weapons in Huron’s veer option attack, even if the line isn’t as improved as advertised.

Defensively, Gildersleeve is confident his linebacker corps will be a strength.

PIONEER PIONEERS

There will be no grace period for first-year head coach Paul Test as he begins his second tenure at Pioneer.

With state powers Warren De La Salle and Birmingham Brother Rice back-to-back on the road to open the season and Livonia Franklin as the season finale, that makes three playoff teams in Pioneer’s three non-conference games.

“The luxury it doesn’t give you is we can’t not be at our best right away. We have to be ready to go week one against the state powers,” Test said.

Whether or not Pioneer can hit the ground running will largely depend on senior running back Drake Johnson, who rushed for 850 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. Test makes no secret that Johnson -- who was also the team’s second leading receiver (357 yards, 4 TDs) -- will be used all over the field.

“He’s our best running back, receiver, punter, punt returner, kick returner and defensive back,” Test said. “He’s a special high school player and we’re going to utilize that talent as best we can.”

Blocking for Johnson will be massive returning senior linemen Mohammed Awwad (6-3, 300) and Ian Moore (6-4, 285), who now have game experience to go along with their size.

That also bodes well for senior quarterback Andy Creal, who was injured often in his first year under center for he Pioneers. Test will look to Creal more as a game manager than playmaker in a balanced offensive attack.

“Andy knows he doesn’t have to take the game on his shoulders and win it. He needs to orchestrate the offense and be smart,” Test said. “We don’t look to throw it 40 times, we want to throw is 20, but for him to complete 75 percent of them.”

Despite having an athletically-gifted defense last year, Pioneer gave up 28 points per game and was often vulnerable to big plays. Test has made shoring up his athletes’ technique and positioning an emphasis in his first pre-season.

He is confident in his veteran defensive line and linebackers, but still has questions about the defensive secondary.

“Defensively, you’re usually as good as your defensive secondary, so we’re looking for that group to mature in a hurry,” Test said.

SALINE HORNETS

The Hornets started last season 2-3 before winning their last four games to qualify for the playoffs. While happy with the late-season charge, coach Mike Glennie would like to see his team hitting on cylinders from the very beginning.

“We definitely need to get out of the gate,” Glennie said. “To not have your back against the wall in Week 9 would be nice.”

Step one to getting out of the gate will be executing the hybrid Wing-T offense, and Glennie thinks junior quarterback Reece Dils is just the man for the job.

Already known for his exploits on the basketball court, Dils was the starting junior varsity signal-caller the last two seasons. Glennie likes his ability to secure the ball and get it in the hands of playmakers, which on occasion will be Dils himself.

“We want to be dynamic in our offense where the threat of running and passing is always there, and (Dils) does that for us,” Glennie said.

Offensively and defensively, the Hornets are an unfinished product according to Glennie, but he anticipates special teams being a huge difference maker as he returns all-state honorable mention kicker Dylan Mulder and all-conference punter Ryan Brown.

Mulder's longest field goal was 47 yards last season and he is a touchback machine on kickoffs. Brown is adept at pinning teams deep.

“In high school football, if we have the ability to make the team go 80 yards every time, I think the odds are that eventually the field will shorten in our favor,” Glennie said.

SKYLINE EAGLES

The fourth year of Skyline High School is finally here, which means the Eagles can finally rely on the leadership and experience of its first-ever senior class, which is 26 players strong.

At the forefront of that class is quarterback Andrew Copp, who threw for 2,433 and 23 touchdowns as a junior, and his two favorite targets from a year ago: Jordan Woods (1,103 yards, 10 TDs) and Theron Wilson (320 yards, 4 TDs).

Skyline’s aerial attack may have been prolific last year, but its rushing attack and defense -- like the Eagles’ win total -- was non-existent. First-year head coach Rod Jones, a former NFL offensive lineman, is out to change that.

Jones was on the line for the Cincinnati Bengals when Corey Dillon rushed for 278 yards in a single game in 2000, at the time an NFL record. He won’t go as far as making any bold predictions about a Skyline back setting any MHSAA rushing records, but does want the offense to become more balanced.

“Someday, I want to be a good running team. As a former lineman myself, I take great pride in running that rock,” Jones said.

Jones doesn’t expect that someday to necessarily come this season. Copp has a big-time arm and Jones has every intention of letting him use it, but he hopes senior running backs Jake Heirschl and Torrey Juide can be enough of a threat on the ground to keep defenses honest.

On the other side of the ball, there’s nowhere to go but up for the Eagles, who gave up more than 50 points per game last season.

“Defensively, anything we do will be better than last year,” Jones said. “You gotta believe you can be successful.”

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE WHITE DIVISION

The Chelsea High School football team made the playoffs for the 12th consecutive year, but ended the 2010 season with an uncharacteristic three-game losing streak.

Was that the Bulldogs' version of a rebuilding year, or a sign of rebuilding to come? Have Lincoln or Dexter -- the only two teams in Washtenaw County to never make a playoff appearance -- caught up with the perennial power? Does last year's surprise team, Ypsilanti, have a legitimate shot at challenging Chelsea and Adrian for an Southeastern Conference White Division title?

CHELSEA BULLDOGS

While Chelsea’s 2010 season may have been about adjusting to the post-Nick Hill era, the 2011 Bulldogs may step back into that mold with junior Berkley Edwards as the feature back.

Edwards -- the brother of Braylon Edwards and son of Stanley Edwards, both former Michigan football standouts -- will be the Bulldogs’ primary ball carrier after splitting time with Joey Newland and Chris Ballow as a sophomore.

Though only a junior, Edwards will be the elder statesmen in an inexperienced Chelsea backfield, which will feature the winner of a three-way quarterback competition between juniors Alex Maloney, Logan Brown and senior Jared Scheese.

Coach Brad Bush didn’t see starting camp without a clear-cut starting quarterback as a major issue, but knows developing consistency in the passing game will be a work in progress because of it.

Chelsea extended its playoff streak to 12 years in 2010, but ended the season in rather uninspiring fashion, losing its final three games -- including a 31-3 pre-district game with Battle Creek Harper Creek.

It was the first time the Bulldogs had lost three straight in a season since Bush’s first year as coach.

To make it to past unlucky 13, Chelsea will be dependent on a veteran defense.

“Our experience on the defensive side of the ball is definitely a strength this year,” Bush said.

DEXTER DREADNAUGHTS

Let’s get a few things out of the way. Yes, Tom Barbieri was fired last season after 10 years as head coach at Dexter. Yes, Barbieri filed a wrongful termination grievance with the school district. No, it has not been resolved.

New coach Brian Baird can’t control the past or future of that situation, so he chooses to focus on the team left in his charge at present.

“It’s still out there, I don’t think anyone thinks about it,” Baird said. “It’s kind of between him and the district, so we’ll just deal with it when it comes down.”

Baird inherited a squad with 35 returning seniors from a team that fell just one win shy of the school’s first playoff berth.

“It’s certainly something to build off of. We’ve got (to five wins) twice, getting that sixth win, that’s the hurdle.” said Baird, who worked within the program in various capacities from 2002-09.

Baird hopes to install more of a hurry-up, fast-paced offense and have a “disciplined, aggressive defense.”

Rather than Xs and Os, Baird hopes his impact can be greatest on the culture of the program, which has had just two winning seasons in the players’ lifetimes.

“They hope they can win, but they don’t know if they can yet,” Baird said. “We have to get over expecting to lose, have to win the mental game.”

LINCOLN RAILSPLITTERS

Lincoln has averaged less than one win per year in head coach Chris Westfall's five-year tenure (3-33) and 2010 was the second winless season in his time with the Railsplitters.

Westfall sees his current group of 26 seniors as one with the potential to turn the program around.

After an interception-plagued junior season, senior quarterback T.J. O’Bryan had to re-earn his starting spot in training camp and Westfall thinks he’s a better leader and player because of it.

“In the competition, he proved himself and in a ton of pressure situations. He’s proved that he’s matured as a quarterback,” Westfall said.

The Railsplitters will run what Westfall calls a zone spread offense, which will feature a lot of option to utilize the speed of his skill position players.

Despite what the scoreboard may have indicated, Westfall thought his team was solid defensively last season -- just overworked due to the Railsplitters’ turnover woes on the offensive side of the ball.

“We just put them in too many bad spots last year,” Westfall said. “If they’re not on the field as much, we can be a solid team on defense, starting up front with the defensive line.”

YPSILANTI PHOENIX

Ypsilanti teetered on the edge of being a playoff team last season, but could never come up with a signature win. The Phoenix lost to perpetual playoff contenders Chelsea and Milan by one point apiece and to SEC White champion Adrian on a last-minute drive after leading most of the game.

Though being competitive with those team is an accomplishment compared to the 1-8 season that preceded it, second-year coach Jason Malloy says his team needs a signature win to build off of rather than "good losses."

“We did a lot of things the right way last year and got a lot of ‘atta boys,’ but in order to be competitive in the league, we have to win those games,” Malloy said.

Ypsilanti has much rebuilding to do on defense after graduating punishing linebackers Trey Sweeney and Marquez Gollman and playmaker Ryan Griffin in the defensive backfield. Malloy feels his veteran defensive line will put his athletic secondary in a position to make plays.

He also feels improvement in special teams -- including the addition of punter Brent King, a transfer from Huron who averaged 39.7 yards last year -- will put the defense in better position to succeed.

On offense, King and Lincoln transfer Kendall Thompson add a combined 53 receptions and 899 receiving yards to an already-strong receivers corps. The passing game, however, will certainly play second fiddle to a ground game led by last year's leading rusher in Washtenaw County, Austin Sanders (928 yards, 11 TDs).

“I am pleased with the direction we’re going but as competitive as I am, I understand culture doesn’t change overnight,” Malloy said.

MORE SEC WHITE

The Daily Telegram's previews two SEC White teams fin Lenawee County: Adrian | Tecumseh

OTHER WASHTENAW COUNTY TEAMS

Washtenaw County has six high school football teams outside of the Southeastern Conference, four of which made the playoffs last season.

Can Milan, Manchester and Father Gabriel Richard continue their traditions of success, and can Willow Run build on its banner year in 2010?

Will Whitmore Lake get off the schnide under the tutelage of University of Michigan legend Barry Pierson? And will Eastern Washtenaw Multicultural Academy continue its tear through the eight-man circuit?

EASTERN WASHTENAW MULTICULTURAL ACADEMY CHARGERS

Eastern Washtenaw Multicultural Academy entertained the thought of switching to an 11-man team during the success of its first two seasons. With a low turnout this season, the Chargers will stick with the 8-man game.

With a high school enrollment of 65 students, that's really where the team belongs.

Athletic director Clifford Russell is running the team in the interim. His plate is full as he juggles a coach search, preseason practice and filling the Chargers’ schedule.

Though EWMA has been part of the Mid-Michigan 8-Man Football League the past two years -- going undefeated and winning the championship in 2009 -- it was replaced by Marine City Cardinal Mooney and not included in league scheduling this year.

As of early this week, the Chargers have only two games on their schedule. They need to play six to be eligible for the inaugural 8-man football state playoffs.

“I’m not confident we’ll fill the schedule, but we’re certainly going to try and make it work,” Russell said.

The Chargers lost running back/linebacker Shadi Farha to graduation and it's no secret he had been the key to their success over the past two years. In his absence, it will be up to Shadi’s cousin, Yasser Farha, to get the ball to primary playmaker Cornelius Saxton.

“When you lose the seniors we did last year, especially an athlete like Shadi, you’re going to have to build upwards,” said Russell, who coached Shadi on the basketball team. “Of the players that are returning, all have significant experience and have improved greatly.”

FATHER GABRIEL RICHARD FIGHTING IRISH

Gone are most of the players from Father Gabriel Richard’s school-record setting offense that led the Fighting Irish to the regional round of the playoffs and its second straight Catholic High School League Prep Bowl championship.

But before last year’s seniors were record breakers, most were untested and inexperienced. The difference is that this season’s version of inexperienced players are mostly underclassmen.

“We’ve been senior-led the last two years. This year we’re real junior heavy,” said Gabriel Richard coach Brian Lemons. “Luckily, some sophomores got some time last year.”

Lemons has had a Division I-level athlete under center every year since he’s been at Gabriel Richard in Josh Herbeck (West Point, basketball) and Donnie Eaton (Michigan, baseball). Junior quarterback Joseph Kendzicky won the preseason quarterback competition and Lemons said the playbook will be a hybrid of the past two years, with tempered expectations out of the gate.

“Herbeck was a pocket passer and Eaton was more of a mobile quarterback. We don’t take things out of the playbook, but we’ll use some things more often,” Lemons said. “The challenge is getting the (quarterback) to understand what is expected of them…The drop off will be on the extreme ends of athleticism.”

Making the job easier for Kendzicky is the addition of junior offensive lineman Kendric Fowler (6-3, 275), whose family relocated back to the area after moving to Georgia two years ago. Fowler has a bevy of experience after playing on a state-title winning team at Chattahoochee High School and will anchor the Irish in the trenches.

Defensively, leading tacklers Dallas Hartsell and Nick Pauze return from a defense that will be hard-pressed to improve on its 12.7 points allowed average last season.

MANCHESTER FLYING DUTCHMEN

Junior quarterback Nate Bossory entered last season as Manchester's backup quarterback, a title he held for all of four minutes of game time. What followed was 2,489 passing yards and 24 touchdowns, both tops in Washtenaw County.

There’s no question coach Wes Gall wants to unleash Bossory’s big-time arm on the Cascades Conference again this season, the question is whether the line can keep him upright after graduating a pair of 250-pound, three-year starters at tackle.

“(Offensive line) is definitely the area where we’re most concerned,” Gall said. “They’re all good kids, all working hard, but when you have two guys that have been starting three years, that’s hard to replace.”

Gall has already moved one of the team’s leading rushers from last year, Bennett Ridenour, from fullback to the offensive line in attempt to shore up the area.

If Bossary is kept upright, he has weapons on the outside in Devin Jose (6-0, 175) and Josh Finley (6-2, 195) to go crazy on defenses more adept at defending power football.

Defensively, Gall is confident as he returns all of his starting linebackers.

“We’re solid (at linebacker). Defensively we’re ahead of where we are offensively because of where the O-line is,” Gall said.

MILAN BIG REDS

It pains first-year Milan coach Jesse Hoskins to suggest the transition to a new staff, and working in a mostly new group of seniors, might be a weakness.

But almost as an homage to his former coach and mentor Steve Robb -- who led the Big Reds to 19 winning seasons and 12 playoff appearances in 25 years -- he begrudgingly suggests it.

“But I’m just not interested in that excuse,” Hoskins said. “This team believes in the scheme and its coaches and the work they’ve put in.”

Hoskins said he’s not overly concerned with replacing a trio of senior running backs -- who last year rushed for 759, 660 and 478 yards, respectively -- or grooming a new quarterback.

“We’re fortunate that there are capable quarterbacks in our program,” Hoskins said. “In high school, every year is a new year. That’s just the nature of having seniors lead your team.”

If ever there was a program prepared for a seamless transition, it is Milan under Hoskins. In addition to being a coach and teach at the high school since 2006, Hoskins has been everything in the Milan program from 8-year-old water boy to all-state quarterback.

Hoskins intends to keep Milan’s reputation as being hard-hitting on defense -- and the 4-4, cover three formation -- intact. Differences in philosophy from Robb-led teams will be more noticeable on offense, but nothing too radical, Hoskins said.

“At the heart, it will be a lot of the same stuff,” Hoskins said.

WHITMORE LAKE TROJANS

With 33 players combined in its varsity and junior varsity programs, and single-digit turnouts in certain grades all the way down to the middle school level, it looks like it could be a tough road for coach Barry Pierson’s team, which was winless in 2010.

“I would assume if you won games, you might get a few more,” Pierson said.

But if you don’t get a few more players, how do you win games?

Pierson has seen improvement from a year ago, when the Trojans were outscored by a combined score of 379-85.

“We’re probably in better shape, stronger and, as a whole, have a better attitude,” Pierson said. “If we don’t get anyone hurt, we should win a few games and close the gap a little bit. But it’s tough without numbers.”

Pierson noted that he’s been particularly impressed with the progress of junior quarterback Dylan St. Charles and sophomore running back/defensive back Sam Paniccaci, both second-year starters.

WILLOW RUN FLYERS

Willow Run made the playoffs for the first time since 1981 last season and pulled off an upset of Manchester in a pre-district game. This season the Flyers will compete in the newly-formed, six-team Michigan Metro Conference after two years of playing an independent schedule.

Despite the success of last season, coach Rufus Pipkins said numbers are a slightly down compared to last year, more likely a result of attrition from the struggling school district rather than the football program itself.

With just 26 players out for the team, staying healthy will be more crucial than ever.

“We’re probably better than we were last year, but last year we had the depth to where if one guy got injured, another could step up,” Pipkins said.

“This year, if we get hurt, we get real young.”

The Flyers will rely on senior running back Nyshaun Marks as a feature back. Pipkins said Marks -- the Flyers’ leading rusher last season -- has lost weight, but added strength and some quickness in the offseason.

Under center for Willow Run will be senior Kareem Lovelace, who sat out last year with a torn ACL.

“You’d like to have an experienced QB, but he was competing for the job last year before he got hurt, so it’s not a total drop off,” Pipkins said.

Willow Run has the benefit of six home games and could enjoy another depending on how its conference playoffs shape up.

Contact Pete Cunningham at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.