Class 4A Around the State

Bishop Miege (5-5) returns two Division I talents, Justin McCay (6-3, 197) and Neil Shortell (6-4, 235), but Baldwin beat them handily in the first round of the 2008 playoffs. –TW 

St. George Rock Creek (9-3), which was defeated in the state quarterfinals by Andale after ousting Andover from the playoffs, returns the bulk of its offensive line to lead the double wing formation. Rock Creek, which likely drops back to Class 3A next season, compiled 3,500 yards rushing in 2008.

Concordia (5-5), a state champ in 1999 but 11-17 over the past three seasons, enters its first season under former St. Francis coach Tim Lambert. Lambert, quarterback of the 1986 undefeated Smith Center state championship team, gave his alma mater its closest call in their ongoing 67-game winning streak as coach at St. Francis, a 6-2 loss at 2006 sub-state. Lambert won 129 games in 17 seasons at St. Francis.