Time to bust out the fresh unis. Yup, the 2007 season on the gridiron is just a week away from kicking off. What more could a sports fan ask for? Fresh faces on the high school fields every Friday night, followed by two long days on the couch with the remote control in-hand for the college and NFL lineup. I get a little grin just thinking about it.

Here's a look at installment No. 1 in my look ahead to the new season. Today we'll start with Class A, followed on Monday with 2A and so on.

In single-A ball around Central Indiana, all discussion must begin with Sheridan. Big surprise. Kind of a funny anecdote, I was at Park Tudor last week talking with some folks and they have simply started calling their sectional (No. 36) "The Bud Wright Invite." I guess that's fair, Bud has certainly earned that over the past 42 years. 

Think about it...if you're an opposing coach or player going up against the Blackhawks, you've got over 300 wins and eight state titles staring you down on the other headset. Not to mention, you look under center at Sheridan and see a gem, Nick Zachery, with a 28-2 record and two state titles - but he enters this season as junior. Yes, a junior.

Zachery will have some help this season, not that he really needs it (OK, that's a joke). Size won't be a problem on the line with junior Dayne Jessup (6-5, 260) and seniors Nick Doty (6-1, 255) and Corbin Paddack (6-5, 310).

In Sheridan's sectional, Park Tudor just might be the second best team. From what I understand, they're excited about their talent but a little thin in most areas. This means staying healthy will be a key. The Panthers biggest area of concern looks like replacing most of their D-line, but senior QB Hank Powell will continue to provide experience and a calming force.

Look out for Lutheran as well, they could be a sleeper if their defense improves. Coach Ray Schultz and his Saints return 10 offensive starters from a 2006 team that scored over 30 points in all seven of their wins and over 40 in four of those. Two-year starter Jared Broughton, also a standout third baseman on the diamond, returns at QB.

Lastly, don't forget about 2006 runner-up Ritter. They lose quite a bit of talent, including All-State QB Nick Purichia, as either freshman Ross Hendrickson and senior Ethan Buckles (6-7, 205) will get the nod. Buckles is also a standout DE for the Cardinals. The Sept. 7 game at Speedway should be a fun one.

All in all, it's going to be tough for anyone in Class A to take out Sheridan. Knowing that, I think it's going to come down to whether or not the Blackhawks remain focused on a weekly basis. Their week 2 game at home against Hamilton Heights (3A) will tell us quite a bit about what lies ahead...look for HSSTM at that one.