Muscle Connection H.S. Football Preview: LaBrae Vikings - WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren Ohio

The LaBrae football team could be the diamond in the rough.

They return nine guys on offense and 10 on defense.  The Vikings could have one of their better teams.

"I think so.  This is a group of seniors that were around for the playoff teams their freshman and sophomore year. When it was there turn, they kind of let it slip. They approached this offseason pretty angry and hungry so we have a bunch of pretty motivated angry young men here looking to right the ship." said coach John Armeni

The Vikings are loaded, especially on offense with returning quarterback Kent Wolford and tight end Tyler Stevens.

"He's a 6'5" tight end. We want to get him the football as much as we can. He'll be a three-year starter at defensive end. Last year he had 16 tackles for loss, so he's kind of two-way guy that we can lean on. He's developing a lot of good leadership skills here and he's trying to drag everybody up to his level."

"Walt Allie, Brendon Tennant at wide receiver, Colton Stoneman at running back, both tight ends back, Tyler Stephens and Damien Airwyke," said Armeni.

With so many playmakers the Vikings will spread the wealth.

"What we're really excited about, pretty much everybody who touched the football last year, every guy who got a carry, a catch, so we're excited about spreading the rock around," Armeni said.

Defensively, even with 10 guys back, they have to play better. 

"That defense has to stop the run. We weren't very good at stopping the run last year, so we've made that a priority early." Armeni said.

The Vikings open the season at home against Conneaut on August 24.