1. The theme of this year's 40 things to watch revolves around the apparent truth that never before, in Lancaster-Lebanon League football, has each of the three sections had one dominating, state-championship-level program:

Wilson in Section One, Manheim Central in Section Two, and Lancaster Catholic in Section Three.

Throw that theory at a Section One or Section Three coach, and he'll play along.

"The road to the section title goes through [Wilson], we all know that," Manheim Township coach Mike Melnyk said.

"Let's face it," said Terry Lehman, Annville-Cleona's veteran coach. "It's Lancaster Catholic, and then throw a blanket over the rest of us."

Present it to a Section Two coach, and his eyes are likely to narrow a little.

"Waddaya mean, dominant? ...

"Last year, Central got back to where they were," said Solanco coach Joe Pearson. "Our section is no slouch; I don't see much difference between the teams, top to bottom."

2. Pearson's got a point. Central has been the L-L's longest running hit, with 16 District Three Class AAA championships, 12 state semifinal appearances, three state finals (one of them last year) and one state championship since 1989.

But the Barons did have a little lull (by their standards) before last year's state-final run, with no district titles and just one final from 2006-08. That did not mean a drop-off for the section overall.

In fact, and this is a remarkable fact, with the L-L now realigned — Ephrata up from Section Two to One, Lampeter-Strasburg from Three to Two — every team in Section Two has been to the district playoffs over the last three years.

3. L-S has been a consistent winner under 13th-year coach John Manion, and reached the state AAA semifinals in 2007. Section Two doesn't figure to hinder the Pioneers much.

"It's where we belong," Manion said. "But it is going to be a week-in, week-out challenge that maybe we're not used to."

Manion has 19 seniors, only one of whom, TE-LB Christian DelRocini, had any role in the state-semi run.

"He's the only one who understands what we're up against," Manion said.

4. Ephrata had only two wins in the last two years. It appears overmatched in Section One, but it's not like Section Two was a pleasure cruise.

"Demographically, we might be more of a Section Two team," coach Jim Vieland said. "But it's an opportunity to take on the big boys."

Vieland hired two assistants, Shaun Webb and Greg Herr, who left Northern Lebanon in the wake of Jack Beidler's dismissal.

"We're going to be young," Vieland said, "but that's not necessarily a bad thing."

5. There are three new coaches in the L-L: Rob Monzon at McCaskey, Mike Burke III at Columbia and Roy Wall at Northern Lebanon.

6. Start with Monzon, whose answer to the standard, What-part-of-head-coaching-has-surprised-you? question was itself surprising.

"I didn't know, based on my interviews, how involved I was going to be in the middle-school and even midget programs," he said. "It's a pleasant surprise. It's the right way to do it. We should be able to make those programs an extension of what we're doing at the varsity level."

7. Monzon is replacing David Given, who resigned as McCaskey's coach last spring to return to Arizona and care for his ailing wife. It was later discovered he'd pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl while coaching at an Arizona high school.

Somehow the criminal-record and child-abuse background checks that are standard for all teaching/coaching hires did not reveal the assault.

8. Burke is the son of Mike Burke, Jr., the former Columbia quarterback who led the Crimson Tide to near-perennial success from 1985-2003, compiling a 138-65-4 record.

Dad will be the offensive coordinator, and Mike Burke IV is a returning all-Section Three wide receiver.

The Tide was winless a year ago, which is, of course, the reason for the Burkefest.

"We have to focus on changing the tone, selling confidence and commitment," Burke III said. "The kids have to know the past is over and done with."

9. The most interesting new-coach situation might be at Northern Lebanon, where Jack Beidler had built a winning program, but was let go for reasons that are unclear, but by all appearances have more to do with making adults happy than kids.

"Everyone got attached [to Beidler]," Vikings RB Ryan Daub said. "A lot of [players] definitely think it was unfair."

Wall has a resume. He was a head high-school coach a year out of college, won a District Class A title at Millersburg a year ago and was eliminated from the postseason by powerful Steel-High in 2006, '07 and '08.

10. The Transfer of this school year is that of Jordan Stewart, a running back who gained 1,570 yards and scored 21 touchdowns for Lancaster Catholic's state-championship team last year. He's now at Conestoga Valley.

The legitimacy of the transfer is not being questioned, but his eligibility for football apparently was as of last week.

CV athletic director Zac Kraft acknowledged Thursday that Stewart was enrolled at CV as a student, but was not yet on the football roster.

11. Mike Williams has seen and dealt with a lot in his 30 years as Manheim Central's coach. This year has brought a new, tragic challenge: the death of one of his players.

Evan Heiser, an 18-year-old Central senior, was killed in an auto accident Aug. 12.

Williams is amazed how little handling of the situation he's had to do.

The Barons — every single player — attended the funeral wearing game jerseys. Many of the players and coaches visited the family the day after the accident.

Williams did give some players time off from practice to deal with the tragedy. At the Barons' team meeting the day before preseason practice started, a half-dozen counselors were on hand.

"I am very proud of the way the team handled it," Williams said. "They grieved, paid their respects, and then they wanted to get back to work."

12. Another new challenge this fall for Central and the other Class AAAs in the L-L: State power Bishop McDevitt, has dropped down from Class AAAA.

"We have modest goals," Williams said.

"We have to get through a lot to get to them. They'd have to be the odds-on favorite to win the district championship."

13. After a state AAAA semifinal run in 2008, Wilson was junior-oriented last year. And still went 9-1 in the regular season and cruised to the Section One title.

"That was above what I thought we were capable of," coach Doug Dahms said.

With QB Zach Zweizig — getting Division I college looks — leading the returners, the Bulldogs are likely capable of more.

14. The consensus top threat to Wilson is Manheim Township, a 7-4, district qualifier a year ago.

The Blue Streaks were run-oriented last year, but that may be changing, thanks to QB Brennan Scott, a highly regarded sophomore who played in every game last year.

"The most impressive thing about him is how well he knows the offense," Melnyk said. "I don't think he's gonna be awed."

15. Scott helped Township win the Eastern Pa. Passing League 7-on-7 tournament this summer, beating a 32-team field including Manheim Central, Harrisburg, Steel-High, York and Susquehanna Township.

16. Penn Manor coach Todd Mealy is a Renaissance man, having written two books, studied abroad and taught classes at Dickinson College.

He's also a program-builder, having led the long-dormant Comets to two straight postseasons.

Penn Manor has lost a lot, but that was true last year, and the Comets won nine games and reached the state playoffs.

"We want to be consistent, and by that I don't mean winning nine games again," Mealy said. "I mean getting the most out of our players. Fortunately, that's what we've been able to do."

17. In Section Two, the most logical challenger to Manheim Central is Cocalico, which went 9-2 a year ago and features the league's leading returning rusher, Austin Hartman, who went for 1,582 yards and 19 TDs last year.

DT Ben Brugger, the Section Two defensive lineman of the year last season, is also back.

18. Conestoga Valley sneaked up on some people early last year under then-new coach Tom Nichols.

After a 1-9 2008, the Buckskins went 7-5 and won a district playoff game. They had a feature back and then some, 2,000-yard rusher Kevin Kelley, to thrive under Nichols' run-oriented style.

Nichols thinks he won't have to change styles much. He might have the transfer Stewart, and said that, "We're actually stronger as a team, and the offensive and defensive lines are bigger and more experienced."

19. One of the things that sets the best high school programs apart is 12-month-a-year involvement.

"People see what happens Friday night, but it's a 365-day-a-year thing," Wilson coach Dahms said.

"I think it's one reason we hate to lose — the kids have put so much into it, if they don't win, it doesn't seem worth it."

20. One offbeat example of that year-round thing: Manheim Central's varsity players coach younger kids (grades 3-7) in the program in a flag football league every spring.

There's a player draft and everything.

"It's not super-competitive, but we do like to talk trash in school a little bit," said Baron WR Derek Hart.

Hart, by the way, is one of the league's more intriguing skill-position players. An athletic 6-5, Hart has heard from West Virginia, Pitt, Delaware and Ivys like Columbia.

21. Just two years ago, Garden Spot made districts and pushed Manheim Central in a memorable 24-19 battle that gave the Barons the Section Two title.

Last year, the Spot went 0-10 and scored just 55 points.

There's a lot coming back, including all-section C Anthony Huber. But there's also some confidence-building to do.

Coach Matt Zamperini was even doing some of it during Media Day, huddling with the three players he brought along and talking intangibles.

"It was one of the hardest things I've ever gone through," Zamperini said. "A big motivator for me and the kids is to prove it was an aberration."

22. It's a similar story at Pequea Valley, which has so little tradition that it's actually uncool to be a football player.

"One of the jokes that goes around is, 'How bad was it? ... Pequea football bad.' " according to DL Andrew Erickson.

The Braves at least ended a 29-game losing streak last year, and return 20 of 22 starters.

They allowed over 2,800 rushing yards last year, but brought in a new coordinator, Dino DiPaolo, formerly of Lancaster Catholic.

"There are no excuses now," coach Curtis Waltman said.

23. Brugger and Township OL Alex Vigilante are the league's only returning section position-group players of the year. Returning all-section players: Section One — Zweizig, Warwick WR Matt Rissinger, Vigilante, Wilson DL Nuku Hill and Wilson LB Cody Simcox.

24. Section Two — Hartman, Brugger, Manheim Central OL Rob LaPorte and Conestoga Valley OL Travis Switzer. LaPorte was all-state last year.

25. Section Three — Annville-Cleona RB Ricky Snyder, Stewart, Burke, Elco WR/DB Tyler George, L-S TE Christian DelRocini, Elco OL Justin Gilbert, Donegal DL Eric Boyer, Lancaster Catholic LB Trevor St. Clair and A-C DB Josh Henning. George is the only player in the league to make it on both sides of the ball.

26. Lancaster Catholic is a Program now, meaning it rebuilds more than reloads.

But the Crusaders have lost plenty from from a state-champ team, including record-destroying QB Kyle Smith and 11 others who made some sort of all-star team.

"We lost a lot, but we have a lot of confidence in the players we have," said Rhys McCall, a slash-type offensive player who figures to catch it and run it for Catholic this fall.

"Of course we want to [win it all again], but, one goal at a time."

27. Elco lost QB Arron Achey, who in terms of impact on his own team probably deserved overall league MVP votes last year.

Achey, now at the University of Maine, played linebacker in the Big 33 game.

Still, with L-S moving up, the Raiders might be the likeliest challenger to Catholic in Section Three.

The Raiders, who went 8-3 and made districts last year, return eight two-way starters, including WR-DB Tyler George, the only L-L player to make first-team all-section on both sides of the ball last year.

28. The highest-profile preseason scrimmage was probably Manheim Central-Cedar Cliff at Manheim Thursday.

Much of the juice there, of course, came from the coaching matchup of Mike Williams vs. former CV/Wilson boss Jim Cantafio. Also, Cedar Cliff is one of the former AAAA schools in District Three now down in Class AAA with Central.

The Barons reportedly won, roughly 17-13.

29. The economy has created budget issues that have impacted sports at many school districts. West Perry High School in Perry County is an extreme case. The school board voted early this month against paying coaches in any fall sports.

For the first few days of football practice head coach Al Ream worked with the team voluntarily, and athletic director Cory Hoffman oversaw practice.

The board voted to pay the teachers Aug. 16, by a 6-2 vote, and apparently reluctantly. One member said he'd vote no if it came up again next year.

Oh by the way, West Perry installed synthetic turf on its football field this summer.

30. Legendary Harrisburg High School coach George Chaump had been making $90,000 as the school's head coach and assistant athletic director. The school district eliminated the assistant AD position, and Chaump has agreed to coach for $7,000.

31. District Three is using a new power-ratings system to determine playoff berths in all sports this fall.

The rating will be a combination of a team's weighted (for strength of schedule) winning percentage and its opponents' weighted winning percentage.

Downsides: 1. It will require schools to provide the district with a lot of information. 2. The rating will be a scary-looking long number with decimal points.

Upside: It's just a more legit rating, since it more accurately measures strength of schedule.

32. High-school football on TV: Pennsylvania Cable Network is airing a game each week, many of them live, including Selinsgrove at Manheim Central at 7 p.m. Sept. 17.

For the full schedule, go to PCNTV.com.

Blue Ridge Cable-11 will offer L-L games every week in football, soccer, field hockey and girls' volleyball.

The football games are generally broadcast live at 7 a.m. Fridays, and replayed at 1 p.m. the following Monday.

The full schedule is at Cable11.com.

33. No. 1 teams in the state by class according to Pennsylvania Football News: AAAA, North Penn; AAA, Bishop McDevitt; AA, Philadelphia West Catholic; A, Dunmore.

From the L-L, Wilson is ranked fourth in AAAA, and Manheim Township and Penn Manor are "others to watch." Manheim Central is No. 5 in AAA, Lancaster Catholic No. 7 in AA.

34. There are no Pennsylvania teams in the USA Today Top 25, but here's a weird twist: No. 8 Manatee, of Bradenton, Fla., opens the season at Pittsburgh Woodland Hills Sept. 4. According to Ken Massey's mathematical system that USA Today also publishes, Woodland Hills is favored.

Again, No. 8 in the country plays unranked, and unranked is favored.

35. Mark this one down on your calendar, part one: Selinsgrove at Manheim Central Sept. 17.

A rematch of last year's Class AAA state final, on statewide cable TV (PCN). Before September's over, the Barons will have played this one plus at Wilson and at Cocalico.

36. MTODOYC, part two: Lancaster Catholic at McCaskey, also Sept. 17.

Remember when these intra-city rivals played every year? Me neither. It's about time.

37. MTODOYC, part three: Manheim Township at Wilson Oct. 22.

This Week 8 battle could, perhaps should, decide the Section One title.

38. Predicted order of finish, Section One: 1. Wilson, 2. Manheim Township, 3. Warwick, 4. Penn Manor, 5. Hempfield, 6. Cedar Crest, 7. McCaskey, 8. Ephrata.

39. Predicted order of finish, Section Two: 1. Cocalico, 2. Manheim Central, 3. Lampeter-Strasburg, 4. Conestoga Valley, 5. Solanco, 6. Lebanon, 7. Garden Spot, 8. Elizabethtown.

40. Predicted order of finish, Section Three: 1. Lancaster Catholic, 2. Elco, 3. Annville-Cleona, 4. Northern Lebanon, 5. Donegal, 6. Pequea Valley, 7. Columbia.

Mike Gross is assistant sports editor of the Sunday News. E-mail him at mgross@lnpnews.com.