COACH: Joe Prud'homme

2007 RECORD: 10-3

RETURNING STARTERS: 6 offense; 4 defense

STRENGTHS: Nolan, which lost to Houston St. Pius X in last year's TAPPS Division I final, returns plenty of offensive firepower. QB Robert Ratliff has passed for 52 career TDs and 4,708 career yards, both school records. Marco Hernandez rushed for 1,025 yards and 10 TDs in 2007. The defense is strong, too, with the return of free safety John Boudreaux (8 INTs, 54 tackles).

NOTABLE: Nolan has made the playoffs in 14 of Prud'homme's 15 seasons.

COACH: Mark Bowles

2007 RECORD: 12-2

RETURNING STARTERS: 6 offense; 6 defense

STRENGTHS: Plenty of offense returns for the defending TAPPS Division II state champions with RB Reid Fitzgerald (2,143 yards, 20 TDs) and WR Adam Smith (492 yards, 11 TDs).

NOTABLE: Fitzgerald was one of three area players – along with Euless Trinity's Samir Baker and McKinney Boyd's Daryn Alves – with more than 300 rushing attempts in 2007.

COACH: Bart Epperson

2007 RECORD: 9-1

RETURNING STARTERS: 6 offense; 7 defense

STRENGTHS: WR Terdema Ussery becomes a focal point of the offense. Ussery had 23 receptions for 438 yards and five TDs in seven games. The return of QB Kirk Hayes (2,418 passing yards, 34 TDs) helps.

NOTABLE: Ussery is a decathlete and is the son of Dallas Mavericks President/CEO Terdema L. Ussery II.

COACH: Bill Persinger

2007 RECORD: 7-5

RETURNING STARTERS: 7 offense; 5 defense

STRENGTHS: DE Dion Chidozie, who has orally committed to Texas Tech as a LB, anchors a defense that gave up 239.5 yards per game last season. He had seven sacks, caused three fumbles and had two tackles for safeties.

NOTABLE: Persinger has coached four of his assistants.

COACH: Mike Wheeler

2007 RECORD: 12-3

RETURNING STARTERS: 8 offense; 8 defense

STRENGTHS: Good balance of returning starters for all units should make Dallas Christian a contender for the TAPPS Division II title. QB Corey Brooks passed for 2,214 yards in the team's run-based scheme.

NOTABLE: Dallas Christian has won seven TAPPS state titles. Its last came in 1998.2. Fort Worth

COACH: James Burk

2007 RECORD: 10-1

RETURNING STARTERS: 2 offense; 6 defense

STRENGTHS: All-everything senior Cody Solaja will make plenty of contributions as the two-time defending SPC Division II champs mature. Solaja made 103 tackles and three interceptions as a linebacker, combined for more than 300 total yards as a running back, and is the team's deep snapper.

NOTABLE: Solaja and LB-RB Will Bass were all-SPC selections in lacrosse last spring.

COACH: Aaron Beck

2007 RECORD: 8-2

RETURNING STARTERS: 6 offense; 6 defense

STRENGTHS: QB Doak Raulston (74-143-3, 1,583 yards, 18 TDs) should blossom now that he's had a year to adjust to Beck's spread offense. TE Huston Prioleau (6-5, 245) is a good target.

NOTABLE: Beck coached the Episcopal School of Dallas to the SPC Division II title two years ago before heading to All Saints in 2007.

COACH: Joel Berry

2007 RECORD: 9-3

RETURNING STARTERS: 3 offense; 3 defense

STRENGTHS: Covenant will build around QB Dillon Hess, who rushed for 1,238 yards and 18 TDs on 252 carries and passed for 2,755 yards and 27 TDs in his first year as a starter.

NOTABLE: Covenant has been playing football for seven years and has made the playoffs five times.

COACH: Steve Hohulin

2007 RECORD: 8-4

RETURNING STARTERS: 6 offense; 6 defense

STRENGTHS: Strong returning junior class ensures that Pantego Christian will be a factor the next two years. LBs Sam Ashmore (153 tackles) and Jacob Attaway (158 tackles) lead the way on defense.

NOTABLE: Pantego has made four state championship appearances during Hohulin's 16-year tenure and won one title (3A, 1997).

COACH: Bob Giesey

2007 RECORD: 11-2

RETURNING STARTERS: 2 offense; 2 defense

STRENGTHS: Giesey is counting on his team's intelligence and work ethic to help overcome shortfalls in experience. Junior DB-WR Duval Gregory combined for 735 total yards.

NOTABLE: American Heritage is seeking its first state semifinal appearance since 2005, when it won the TAPPS Division IV title.