Last season, Green Hope and Panther Creek battled each other for the last two spots in the Tri-8 Conference. There are signs that things could be different this season.

Based on what we know from the preseason, the Tri-8 should be down overall this season.

Panther Creek will have its first class of seniors, while Green Hope coach Steven Katz will be starting his second season.

Falcons ready to make move back to the top

The Falcons have done well in 7-on-7 competition over the summer, even against conference foe Middle Creek who is expected to compete for the conference championship in 2008.

If you know anything about me, you know that I'm not a fan of 7-on-7's. It's basically like playing catch. I know the big guys don't get much credit, but you put a 250-pound defensive linemen in someones face and it will impact how they throw the ball.

Katz knows a lot about turning programs around too.

Before Katz made the move to Cary to take over the Green Hope program, he was busy turning around a Florida school that had been struggling.

Winter Springs High School (What a name for a Florida school. I mean seriously, do they have winter down there?!?) opened its doors in 1997. They weren't exactly known for their outstanding football. In fact, the school never posted a winning record, and they never advanced in the playoffs.

All of that changed when Katz came on board.

Katz made the move to Winter Springs in 2001. In six seasons at the school, Katz led the team to three conference titles, went to the post season four times, and posted an overall record of 34-29.

When Green Hope announced they had hired Katz, the football coach said he thought the demographics between the two schools were similar.

Prior to Katz replacing Tim Pauluzzi, the Falcons won back-to-back Tri-Seven Conference championships in 2003 and 2004. After suffering one loss in the regular season of 2004, Green Hope made a playoff run all the way to the Eastern Regional Final before falling to South View.

The new kids on the block shaking things up?

Could it be that Panther Creek surprises some people this season? Perhaps. The Catamounts are going to fielding their first ever senior class in 2008, and with lots of experience, those seniors should be motivated to win some games.

When the school opened just two years ago, Panther Creek could only put a junior varsity team on the field. That junior varsity team was pretty darn successful too.

Does that success translate over to varsity? Well, it's never a sure thing, but it is a definite possibility.

The upper-classmen should have a lot of on-field experience by this season, but the school is still young as a whole.

The Catamounts do seem to have their quarterback position in check. Gray Mazzone will look to lead the Catamounts to the school's first winning season as a varsity program. Mazzone threw for about 1,000 yards last season, but his ability to run the ball is what gives him the advantage against defenses.

A defense playing against Mazzone has to be ready for him to run on any down, in any situation. He's fast, he's athletic, and he has the ability to be the difference in the Catamount program this season.

Senior targets for Mazzone will include Stephen Womble and Quade Wright who were both solid receivers last season. From what we're hearing from the 7-on-7 action, Graham Love may be a prospect to watch this season. Love is a rising junior and earned Most Valuable Player honors for the summer 7-on-7's.

Nick's Bottom Line

This is a year for someone to come from the bottom to the top in the Tri-Eight. Most of the teams are rebuilding, and that leaves the door open for teams like Green Hope and Panther Creek.

Both of these schools have athletes that are capable of coming together and winning ball games.

Green Hope's biggest issue will be their lack of team speed. The Falcons won't be that fast in the 2008, but they should be bigger than they were last year. Panther Creek's main concern will continue to be the lack of experience. The program is young, and the foundation for it is still being established.

A successful season and a playoff berth could do wonders for both programs.