SLIPPERY ROCK - The Ship might finally set sail for postseason play.

Coming off an 8-3 season, Shippensburg University is the preseason favorite to win the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division, according to the preseason poll of coaches.

Rocky Rees, in his 15th year as the Red Raiders' head coach, doesn't deny his team's potential.

"Last year at this time we had a lot of question marks, and I thought we overachieved," Rees said. "This year, we're good. We should be very good."

Shippensburg returns all 11 of its starters on offense, including PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year John Kuhn, who rushed for 1,500 yards and 21 touchdowns last year.

Kuhn is among five All-PSAC West first-team all-stars returning to the Red Raiders. Tight end Joel Gamble, receiver Pat Ferguson, cornerback-return specialist Brent Grimes and linebacker Dan Walsh are the others.

"Offensively, we have everybody back on our first team, second team, even our third team," Rees said. "That's never happened for me in coaching before.

"We have big-play potential to go with a solid inside running game," he added.

Seneca Valley graduate Jon Aldridge, a sophomore, is competing for the No. 2 quarterback position behind junior Rick Henshaw.

"Jon had shoulder surgery last summer and he's just coming around to being able to cut the ball loose," Rees said. "He has the ability to run and throw. He can do a lot of things.

"If he doesn't get time at quarterback, he may wind up as a wide receiver or defensive back for us."

On defense, Shippensburg returns six starters from a unit that led the PSAC in points allowed with 14, yards rushing with 92.4 and overall yards allowed with 246.6.

Lou Tepper guided the Fighting Scots to their first playoff appearance since 1995 last season. A balanced offense returns three PSAC West first-teamers in quarterback Justin Bouch, running back Matt Phillips and receiver Justin Lipscomb.Knoch graduate Greg Bzorek was a second-team performer at right tackle and returns. His older brother, Ron, is a senior and will likely start at right guard.Their youngest brother, Josh, is a freshman defensive lineman who will likely redshirt."I've coached two brothers before - I've never coached three," Tepper said.Freeport graduate Bobby Woods, coming off shoulder surgery, is lining up at receiver with the first team in camp."He's got all the tools," Tepper said. "At the very least, he'll be in our receiver rotation. He stands an excellent chance of starting."Free safety Raji El-Amin, who led the league with nine interceptions last year, returns to anchor the defense.

The Indians are looking for their 14th playoff bid in 18 years under coach Frank Cignetti. The Indians were 10-1 last season but were denied a postseason berth.Running back Mike Jemison rushed for 1,311 yards a year ago and ranked seventh in NCAA Division II with 145.7 yards rushing per game. He returns to anchor the offense.Linebacker Brad Potts, with 93 total tackles and 13 tackles for loss, returns to anchor the defense."We have a lot of question marks," Cignetti said. "We have good experience, maturity and leadership at the skilled positions, but we have to replace our offensive line."We have to replace our inside people on defense and find a new placekicker."

Defense keyed the Vulcans last year, and that won't change this season. Linebacker Brian Oddi, who led the PSAC with 128 tackles, and defensive back Jaison Cook are back. Both were PSAC West first-team selections last year.In 2003, Cal averaged just 13.9 points per game on offense but will get back the services of receiver Garvin Graves, who sat out last year after catching 70 passes in 2002."We return eight starters on defense," Coach John Luckhardt said. "Our strength should be in skilled positions on both sides of the ball."One of those could be fullback Jon Lee, a redshirt freshman and Seneca Valley graduate."We're looking for a fullback and Jon could be the guy," Luckhardt said. "(Sophomore) Tommy Byrd is a returning starter there, but Jon is pushing him. And Jon can run the ball well."

The Golden Eagles are coming off a 3-8 season and have no PSAC West first-teamers returning.But coach Malen Luke does have 10 starters returning on offense and eight on defense."We ran into some injuries last year and lettered 14 true freshmen," Luke said. "Hopefully, we'll reap some benefits from that this year."We have four kids taking snaps at quarterback and a fourth-year starter (Glenn Lovelace) returning at running back."

Running back Maurice Walker (578 yards) and receiver Rafael Smith (31 catches-444 yards) key the Bald Eagles' attack.Lock Haven was 3-8 a year ago and coach Mark Luther returns 17 starters, including punter-placekicker Dan Hagerman.The PSAC is the largest single-state conference in all of NCAA football. Nine member schools have combined to play 46 Division II playoff games in the past 14 years.NCAA Division II has expanded its playoffs this season and realigned its regions. The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is no longer in the Northeast Region and six playoff teams will come out of the Northeast."There may be three teams out of the PSAC West making the playoffs this year," Slippery Rock University coach George Mihalik said. "Our league should be that good."