GROVE CITY — On a preseason questionnaire, Grove City High football coach Jeff Bell ran out of room while writing down his top returning players.

He just wishes he had more offensive and defensive linemen on that generous list.

While the Eagles can boast of one of the finest collections of skill players around, the big beef up front is a little thin.

Injuries in camp have taken a toll on the line. All-region lineman Taylor Pokrant is out four to six weeks. Others are banged up.

"We have some real concerns on the offensive line right now, depth-wise," Bell said. "That's where the majority of our injuries are. Thankfully, our defense only needs three defensive linemen."

That long top returning player list is the result of a young team that rolled off seven wins in the regular season and a region championship last year.

The Eagles also shocked Erie Strong Vincent in the playoffs before losing in the District 10 Class AAA title game to Erie Cathedral Prep.

Once the line returns to full health, which Bell said he hopes is sooner rather than later, Grove City could be one of the most talented teams in District 10.

Grove City is Class AA now, dropping into a familiar region with former rivals Slippery Rock, Wilmington, Oil City and Meadville.

The schedule is a challenging one, but Bell wouldn't want it any other way.

"I looked at our schedule and I said to the kids, 'We don't have a breather in there,'" Bell said.

Even the nonregion schedule is staunch. The Eagles open up with Erie East, a team that took Grove City to two overtime periods before the Eagles won.

The loss knocked East out of playoff contention.

They square off in the season opener Sept. 4 at 1 p.m. at Erie Veterans Stadium.

"Your firstU game is so important to get that momentum going," Bell said. "You have a bad game and you lose it, there's not a lot of time to recover."

Junior quarterback Tyler Dagres has more experience than most third-year players. A starter the last two seasons, Dagres has more than 20 varsity games under his belt.

Last season, the 6-foot-2 QB passed for 509 yards and rushed for 363 more in the Eagles' conservative Wing-T attack.

Bell said the offense could open up a little more in 2010.

Running back isn't an issue, even with the loss of last season's leading rusher Jamar Patterson.

Wesley Phipps, as well as Harold Price, are back. Bell's teams always spread the carries out.

"The kids we do have who are out there, I'm really happy with," Bell said.

The defense relies on five athletic linebackers to make plays behind a three-man line that soaks up blockers.

Most of the running backs also will play linebacker.

"We are blessed with a lot of athletic kids," Bell said. "That's one of the reasons why we run this type of defense."

Grove City has been one of the most successful programs in District 10 over the last six seasons with a 49-19 record and a trip to the PIAA championship game in 2004.

"That's what I have been working for and the coaches have been working for: winning seven, eight games a year," Bell said.