Some things are a given. One is Washburn finishing on top of the Minneapolis City Conference standings. The Millers have won 10 consecutive league titles, and they are looking to make it 11. Their next step is to win the section crown, a feat they have only done once during this stretch. Roosevelt has dropped out of the conference fold, not fielding a varsity squad in 2011.EDISON TOMMIES
Coach: Michael Minnema. 2010 record: 0-8.
• This is most veteran team Minnema has had in four years. For the first time during that stretch he will not be starting a freshman. He will have to keep his starters healthy, as most of them will play on both offense and defense.
HENRY PATRIOTS
Coach: John Swain. 2010 record: 2-7.
• Swain enters his third year at the helm of the Patriots program, but last year he wasn't able to equal his win total of three from his debut season of 2009. Senior halfback/defensive back Macio Harrell (5-11, 180 pounds) will provide a bulk of the offense, which will run out of the spread this year. The Patriots will also be more aggressive defensively in 2011.
NORTH POLARS
Coach: Kaylord Saunders. 2010 record: 3-6.
• First-year coach Saunders will look to regain the winning formula at North. The Polars won three of their first four games last season before dropping their last five. They were coming off a 9-3 season in 2009. They will look to utilize their speed, because they don't have a lot of size.
SOUTH TIGERS
Coach: Lenny Sedlock. 2010 record: 5-4.
• Sedlock will be counting on his defense to keep the Tigers in games. They have five starters back, including two linebackers and two defensive backs. The Tigers will be young on the offensive side of the ball, with only two starters returning -- and both are linemen.
SOUTHWEST LAKERS
Coach: John Biezuns. 2010 record: 6-3.
• If one team is going to make a run at the Millers' streak, it's the Lakers. Biezuns' defensive unit, with six starters returning, is going to be very tough to score on. The defense is led by senior cornerback Tray McKinney (6-1, 190). The offense will be a work in progress with a lot of young, inexperienced players. They graduated their entire backfield.
WASHBURN MILLERS
Coach: Giovan Jenkins. 2010 record: 7-4.
• Jenkins welcomes back seven starters on offense, including senior guard/defensive tackle Orlando Koger (6-4, 330), so scoring shouldn't be a problem. Senior quarterback Kyle Hughes, who threw for 1,359 yards and rushed for 901 a year ago, will direct the offense. The concern will be on the defensive side of the ball due to a lack of experience. The Millers have only three starters back on defense.
RON HAGGSTROM
PREDICTION
1. Washburn
2. Southwest
3. South
4. Henry
5. North
6. Edison