Clarion-Limestone sports a 44-player football roster this season, its largest in years.

Good thing, because the Lions are dropping like flies.

C-L goes into its home and season opener against Moniteau at 7 p.m. Friday with as many as five starters on the shelf and last year's stellar quarterback, Scott Davis, transferred to Lake-Lehman High School near Wilkes-Barre.

"It definitely feels like we've had a cloud hanging over our head,"Lions coach Todd Smith said.

Moniteau coach Steve Wilson isn't convinced the misfortune will affect his opponent's performance, however.

"I don't care what's happened up there,"Wilson said. "A tradition like they have over the past four or five years ... You don't overlook somebody like that."

Indeed, C-L has won and won often. The Lions have either won outright or shared the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference championship in each of the past four years, winning 43 of 49 games during that time.

C-L has defeated Moniteau in 15 of the last 16 meetings between the squads, the Warriors' lone win being a 21-7 decision in 2004. Smith enters his fourth year at the helm with a 31-5 career record.

"I think we're coming out of camp able to do a lot more things now than we were able to do at this point last year,"Wilson said. "But we still have to translate that into performance on the field."

Josh Loos, a 6-foot-3 junior, will start at quarterback for the Warriors. Back-up quarterback Tyler Armagost may see time at tight end or wide receiver — or quarterback.

"Neither one of those guys did anything in camp to lose the job,"Wilson said. "They both did everything we asked of them. Tyler may get some snaps just for a change of pace.

"You want to get your best 11 athletes on the field some way, somehow. Even though he's only a sophomore, Tyler is probably one of those athletes."

Adam Pry, Travis Shaffer and Cruz Eshenbaugh have played solidly at receiver in scrimmages against Penns Manor and Mercer.

Adam Cousins, who had more than 700 combined rushing and receiving yards last season, will be the workhorse back, though Clay Drnek and Tom Bell have also played well in the backfield.

"The passing game will be a big part of our offense this year,"Wilson said. "We should be very balanced."

C-L will start a 6-foot-1 freshman quarterback in Dan Miller. Two of Smith's best offensive weapons — running back Harry Cooper and wingback Brent Rhoads — are seniors who did not play football last year.

Among the injured are senior lineman-linebacker Jesse Zahoran (out for year with concussion), tight end-strong safety Ryan Reddinger (broke arm in last scrimmage), running back Andy Wilson (shattered heels), running back-linebacker Matt Hetrick (ankle) and running back-defensive back Justin Murray (car accident).

"We're hoping to get Hetrick and Murray back for this game, but that's uncertain right now,"Smith said. "We'll just have to get better as we go."

Moniteau hopes to overcome a lot defensively. Wilson said this is the quickest, most athletic defense he's had.

Justin Castello, who had planned to shift to middle linebacker, is excelling at tackle instead. Aaron Randall is handling the middle linebacker spot.

<b>7:30 p.m., Friday</b>• <B>Streak:</B>Clarion-Limestone has defeated Moniteau in 15 of the last 16 meetings between the teams.• <B>Statistic:</B>The Lions have lost 84 percent of their offensive production from last season.• <B>Speaking:</B> "It's not good timing for us to be playing anybody right now. We need to get healthy. I'm not sure if we'll ever be at full strength all year." — Clarion-Limestone coach Todd Smith