It's a whole new kind of arms race in Butler County this fall. This one could be won with a ground war.

The quarterbacks returning to high school football teams all are dual threats. They can beat you through the air or on the ground.

"I've always liked quarterbacks who could run around a little bit," said Slippery Rock High coach Clyde Conti.

He has one in senior Jono Powell, who threw for 1,187 yards and rushed for 654 yards and nine scores last season.

Powell is not the only big time threat at the quarterback position.

Moniteau's Tyler Armagost, Karns City's AnthonyStimac, Seneca Valley's C.J. Brown and Mike Burk of Grove City High all return following a season in which they threw for at least 1,000 yards and 10 scores and rushed for at least five scores.

Burk, though, broke his foot in camp and will miss roughly half the season.

Armagost, a senior, is perhaps the most accomplished passer of the group. In 2007, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound quarterback completed 132 passes for 2,127 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Using his bullish frame, he also rushed for 367 yards and 10 scores.

The Warriors ran a spread offense, giving Armagost the freedom to throw or run out of the formation.

It was a role Armagost relished.

"I love it," he said. "I love having the game on my shoulders."

This summer, Armagost sought to improve his skills. He attended numerous passing camps and worked out with former Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh quarterback Pete Gonzalez.

They worked on his footwork and mechanics, and Armagost said he feels he is poised for a big season.

He hasn't come up with any numerical goals except for one.

"I really have only one personal goal," he said. "I want to get to 5,000 career passing yards."

That seems well within reach. Armagost needs only 1,400 yards to get there.

At Karns City, senior quarterback AnthonyStimac has entirely different goals.

"Truthfully, we're playing for the state championship," the 5-foot-8 quarterback said. "We know it's going to be a hard road, but I think we are ready for it."

Stimac certainly has the resume of a state championship quarterback.

Last season, his first as the full-time starter, Stimac racked up 1,583 yards passing and 20 touchdowns to go with 441 yards rushing and nine TDs

He averaged 5.2 yards per carry to lead area quarterbacks.

It's no wonder. Stimac grew up as a running back before switching to QB.

"I'm a running back at heart," Stimac said. "When a play comes in that is designed for me to run it, or an option play is called, I'm excited."