SLIPPERY ROCK — To say the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference has been dominant would be an understatement.

• Ten times in the past 12 years — among six different schools — a PSAC team has won the regional championship.

• The league houses seven of the top 25 active NCAA Division II coaches in career wins.

• Sixty-three returning All-PSAC players dot league rosters.

But the most dominating of the dominant has been California (Pa.).

The Vulcans haven't lost a game in the PSAC West in three years and are shooting for their fourth consecutive NCAA regional championship.

"I'm starting to feel like (retired Buffalo Bills coach) Marv Levy," California coach John Luckhardt said. "We keep getting to the big game and leaving."

But getting to the big game has become commonplace.

"Yeah, you have to say right now that it's California, then everyone else," Edinboro coach Scott Browning said. "They've put themselves in a class by themselves."

The Vulcans return 17 starters, including quarterback Josh Portis, who threw for 36 touchdowns and nine interceptions as a first-year starter last year. Terrance Moore, a 1,000-yard receiver a year ago, returns along with productive receiver Chedrick Cherry and tight end Blake Williamson.

California must develop a new tailback, however, as leading rusher Freddie Bacco is gone and would-be starter Windell Brown will miss the season after being involved in a near-fatal automobile accident.

"He was in a coma for five weeks and has numerous injuries," Luckhardt said. "We have no experienced tailback, but when something like Windell's situation happens ... football seems like such a minor thing."

Indiana (Pa.) returns nine starters on offense and would have more, but tailback Tobias Robinson has moved to cornerback.

"We're thin in the defensive backfield and somewhat deep at tailback," IUP coach Lou Tepper said. "Tobias' future at the next level will likely be at corner, so the move is beneficial to him personally as well as to our football team."

The Crimson Hawks return quarterback Pat Smith, who started the final half of last season when an injury sidelined Andrew Krewatch.

Smith, Portis and Gannon's Zach Boedicker are the only returning starting QBs in the Western Division.

"We do feel like we have a head start on most teams in that category," Tepper said.

Clarion, a surprise 8-3 team, has 20 starters coming back, including PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year Alfonso Hoggard at running back.

Karns City graduates Kory Kusick (nose guard) and Anthony Stimac (cornerback) figure to be keys to the Golden Eagles' defense.

"Both should at least be part-time starters," Clarion coach Jay Foster said. "They have good football sense and they're competitors."

Edinboro has 19 starters back, but only one of those is an interior defensive lineman. That could mean playing time for redshirt freshman Henry Cypher, a Knoch graduate.

"Henry is an intense kid with a great motor," Browning said. "He's a strong kid who has hit the weight room hard. It looks like he's going to get on the field for us."

Record-setting quarterback Trevor Harris has moved on to the NFL, signing with Jacksonville as a free agent. His younger brother, Cody, inherits the Fighting Scots' job behind center.

Karns City graduate Cameron Turner is back as one of just five returning starters offensively for Mercyhurst. He is the Lakers' starting center after transferring from Lock Haven a year ago.

"Cam learned a lot last year, moving from tight end (at Lock Haven) to center," Mercyhurst coach Marty Schaetzle said. "He's such an athletic kid and he did a good job for us. Yet he's still learning the position."

<B>Western Division</B>1. California (Pa.) (7)2. Indiana (Pa.)3. Clarion4T. Edinboro (1)4T. Gannon6. Slippery Rock7. Mercyhurst8. Lock Haven<B>Eastern Division</B>1. West Chester2. Bloomsburg (1)3. C.W. Post (N.Y.) (3)4. Shippensburg (3)5. East Stroudsburg (1)6. Kutztown7. Millersville8. Cheyney