Their marquee names are offensive linemen.

Already more pub for Christian Westerman, Tyler Johnstone and John Archuleta than most guys in the trenches will get in four years of high school ball. Hamilton's chance to win a third straight 5A-I title is linked in great part  to a veteran offensive line that's got championship experience. What can they do for an encore?

"I thought last year's group was best line we've had here," Hamilton coach Steve Belles said. Three of those five are back (center Nick Cosenza is another) and a fourth was Archuleta, a stalwart in Nevada last year. Add in a sprinkling of veteran players on the defensive side, an experienced quarterback and the Huskies are simply prohibitive favorites to win their sixth state in the last eight years.

Hamilton fired the first salvo last Saturday when it edged Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, the defending Nevada big-school champs, 24-17. Quarterback Kyren Poe snuck across the goalline for the winning score late in the final period behind right guard Steven Oliver. That game, plus playing in the rugged Fiesta Region, is plenty to get Hamilton ready for anything it can face in the playoffs.

The Fiesta Region, which produced almost a third of the 5A-I playoff field last year (Hamilton, Mesa, Chandler, Brophy and Red Mountain) and both finalists, will be stout again. Poe saw enough action last year and performed more than adequately to run the Huskies' attack efficiently. Defensively there are stalwarts like lineman Shaq Jenkins, linebacker Tyler Rutt and defensive back Cedric Parker back from a squad that blanked Mesa High in the title game.

Other 5A-1 teams to watch

Chandler: The Wolves return arguably the best quarterback in the state in explosive dual-threat senior Brett Hundley. They also have some of their top skill position players backs including running back Oshae Hatcher and wide out Michael Okonkwo. The Wolves, however, have work to do on their offensive line, which has solid first-teamers, but lacks depth. Many of the Wolves' lineman will be going both ways and that could prove to be a burden as the season progresses.

Red Mountain: New coach Ron Wisniewski has made the trek from New Jersey to Mesa to try and continue the Mountain Lions success. The Mountain Lions qualified for the playoffs nine times in the first decade of 2000, winning two state titles and reached the semis two other times. As only the second coach in the school's 23-year history, Wisniewski has some experienced players to work with, but is fitting them into his schemes. It's not easy reaching goals of playoffs and beyond in a coach's first year, but Wisniewski came on board late last winter to get a head start. The Mountain Lions were very good at the lower levels last year as well.

And don't count out Brophy. A quarterback battle between incumbent Chase Knox and newcomer Tyler Bruggman, a sophomore,  went  Bruggman's way. Knox, last year's starter, has left the school. Coach Scooter Molander is high on Bruggman, particluarly his ability to pick up things quickly. Youth could be a bit of a deficiency early on overall, but if progress is made as usual the Broncos will have something to say about the ultimate outcome.

There likely will be a team, maybe two, from the Central Region that works its way into the state title mix. The question is which one or two? The two steadiest programs in the region -- Mountain View and Basha -- were the top two teams when the dust settled last November. New Basha coach Bernie Busken (Basha) tries to continue the success of predecessor Tim McBurney.

Busken has been impressed by what he's seen fo far. He likes the experience and depth in the offensive line, linebacking corps and kicking game. The Bears key loss from last year was quarterback Mike Benjamin.

But it's a retooling year for pretty much every team in the Central Region at quarterback. Mountain View and veteran coach Tom Joseph, who took over for Busken at Mountain View in 2002, has eight starters back on defense, just one on offense. On paper Mountain View and Basha look to resume their roles as top of the region clubs, but are they good enough to compete with the Fiesta's finest when play gets down to the nitty gritty.

5A-I teams from the 5A East Valley Region who could see their way as contenders are Mountain Pointe, last year's surprise from the region, and Deert Ridge. Mountain Pointe's strength early will shift from defense to offense with the graduation of Davon Jones and De'Andre Currie, a pair of 1,000-yard backs. Leading the defense is Israel Marshall, a linebacker-safety, who will double in the offensive backfield. Desert Ridge will keep cranking out offense with a talented group of skill players at receiver, running back and quarterback. The Jaguars want to use more clock this year, which may mean more run and less pass. Transfer quarterback Parker Rasmussen fits the profile of a talented runner and he'll have Sam Papa, Jordan Becerra, Joey Counts and Paris Clark to throw to.

Westwood also deserves a mention. The Warriors have their entire skill arsenal back from last year. The question will be line play and their depth in the trenches.