Division III-North

Alconbury Dragons

2002 record: 1-5 regular season, 1-5 overall

Head coach: Ron Behr (1st season at Alconbury)

Returning starters: None.

Player to watch: C Joe Warren.

Prominent plus: Outstanding staff of assistant coaches, according to Behr, along with work-ethic example provided by 242-pound Warren.

Home field: Next to high school.

Brussels Brigands

2002 record: 6-0 regular season (III-North champions), 6-1 overall.

Head coach: Joe Fiedler (21st season at Brussels’ helm)

Returning starters: Offense 4, defense 3.

Players to watch: QB Kevin Nicholson, RB Kyle Cox, FB Eric Popp, C-Jacob Williamson, SE Lonnie Ruffin, SE Devell Landfair, OL-DL Patrick Fry.

Prominent plus: Brigand’s appetite for hard work, according to Fielder, who during first week of practice saw status of all-conference guard Martin Dukoski jeopardized by family’s desire to provide him French lessons in lieu of football, and fullback and All-Europe kicker Marc Silos who elected to play Belgian soccer.

Home field: Next to high school.

London Central Bobcats

2002 record: 3-3 regular season, 3-3 overall

Head coach: Fredo Ontiveros (2nd year at London Central)

Returning starters: Offense 5, defense 7, special teams 7.

Players to watch: OL-DE Mark Pierce (all-conference '02), QB Jeremy Tibbetts, WR-DB-PK Andrew Cusumano, TE-DE Josh Coker, DE Kirk Warrior, ST Jesse Tate.

Prominent plau: Strong senior leadership, according to Ontiveros, to fulfill team goal “better today than yesterday.”

Menwith Hill Mustangs

2002 record: 0-6 regular season, 0-6 overall

Head coach: Pete Resnick (4th season at Menwith Hill)

Returning starters: None.

Players to watch: QB Andrew Huntley, FB Mike Bailey, RB Drew Kempi.

Prominent plus: Mustangs plan on team speed to make them competitive after one-season hiatus caused by lack of players, according to Resnick.

Home field: Next to high school.

Rota Admirals

2002 record: 3-3 regular season, 3-3 overall

Head coach: Ben Anderson (3rd season at Rota)

Returning starters: Offense 5, defense 4.

Players to watch: FB-LB Mike Hall, WR-DB Stephen Lilly, QB Dante Brucci, OL-DL Cody Woolfe, WR Zach Hudson, RB-DB Mishma Slaughter, RB-DB Andre Mahone, OL-LB Sir Thompson, OL-DL Greg Kidd.

Prominent plus: “The strength of our team is our overall work ethic and attitude,” said Anderson, who kept Admirals together and practicing two seasons back when 9-11 forced cancellation of all his team’s games. “We should be a very tough team by the middle of the season.”

Home field: On base.

Sigonella Jaguars

2002 record: 2-4 regular season, 2-4 overall

Head coach: Fred Wilmot (7th season at Sigonella)

Returning starters: Offense 8, defense 8

Players to watch: QB Keenan Jones, WR Paul Nicholson (all-conference '02), WR-LB Jose Peralta, FB Paul Vazquez, RB Anthony Turner, SB Dustin Sampson, OL-DL Jade Garth, OL-LB Kelby Lamb.

Prominent plus: “Speed, agility and heart,” said Wilmont, citing his team’s explosive potential.

Home field: On base.

Division III-South

Ansbach Cougars

2002 record: 6-0 regular season (III-South champions), 8-0 overall (European D-3 champions)

Head coach: Marcus George (3rd season at Ansbach)

Returning starters: Offense 4, defense 3.

Players to watch: QB Shawn Bachtel (All-Europe ’02), PK-LB Garrett Eichhorn (All-Europe ’02), TE-LB Russell Bailey (all-conference ’02), OG Dan Lozano, LB Rory Lozano, OT Mike Ewing C Adam Golden, WB Jon Austin, RB James Esters, RB Dameon Outley, OL David Herold, OL Juan Hernandez, RB Jessy Schardt, RB Carlos Sanchez.

Prominent plus: “We are pleased to welcome back the nucleus of an offense that averaged 40 points a game last year,” said George, whose Cougars are riding a 10-game winning streak.

Home field: Next to high school in Katterbach housing area.

Bamberg Barons

2002 record: 3-3 regular season, 3-3 overall

Head coach: Brian Knotts (1st season at Bamberg)

Returning starters: Offense 8, defense 8.

Players to watch: QB-S Jose Urbaez, DT-P Sean Boland (All-Europe ’02).

Prominent plus: Experience provided by 16 returning juniors and seniors, according to assistant coach Vince Bachert. Barons must overcome probable season-ending loss of star middle linebacker Danny Spindler who suffered a broken arm after falling from a mechanical bull at a community fest last week.

Home field: J.F. Kennedy field.

Baumholder Bucs

2002 record: 5-1 regular season, 6-2 overall (European D-3 runner-up)

Head coach: Carter Hollenbeck (3rd season at Baumholder)

Returning starters: Offense 4, defense 4.

Players to watch: OL-DL Gerald Dickerson (All-Europe ’02), FB-LB Emmett Wilson, OL-DL Alex Eng, OL-DL Ryan Morton.

Prominent plus: 12 returnees from last season’s 38-player squad to help fill many holes, according to Hollenbeck.

Home field: Minnick Field, Smith Barracks

Giessen Griffins

2002 record: 1-5 regular season, 1-5 overall

Head coach: James Lloyd (1st year at Giessen)

Returning starers: Offense 8, defense 8.

Players to watch: DT John Castillo, QB Mike Waters, RB Anthony Moore, RB Elliott Gonzalez, TE Tim Battle, G Chris Battle.

Prominent plus: Experienced nucleus of eight starters, according to Lloyd.

Home field: Next to high school at Giessen Depot.

Hohenfels Tigers

2002 record: 4-2 regular season; 4-2 overall.

Head coach: Chad Squires (2nd season at Hohenfels)

Returning starters: Offense 3, defense 2.

Players to watch: OL-DL Joe Bouknight, OL-DL Bo Bartlett, QB Tex McWillie.

Prominent plus: Ability to play as a team, according to Squires, who added he’ll be rebuilding this season.

Home field: Next to high school.

Vicenza Cougars

2002 record: 1-5 regular season, 1-5 overall

Head coach: George Smailes (4th season at Vicenza)

Returning starters: Offense 6, defense 3

Players to watch: QB Tim Turner, RB Rod Calhoun, RB Eric Lain, FB Patrick Bailey, CB Gary King, CB Farad Hayward, LB Dominic Mitchell.

Prominent plus: Development of Turner at QB and new backs Calhoun and Bailey, strongest man on the team, according to Smailes. Smailes expects backfield to play together this season and next.

Home field: Next to the high school.

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