PITTSBURGH — Nobody expected Thiel College to do much in football before the 2004 season.

But that year, the Tomcats won seven games for the first time in 32 years. Then last year, they went 11-1, won their first Presidents' Athletic Conference title in 33 years and made their first NCAA Division IIIplayoff appearance ever.

And Butler County has plenty to do with the school's sudden gridiron success.

• Ricky Gable, a third-year starting guard from Mars, was voted a co-captain this season.

• Jeff Wagner, a returning starter at middle linebacker and Thiel's leading tackler from Karns City, was voted the other co-captain.

• Steve Minton, a junior running back who became Thiel's first 1,000-yard rusher a year ago, is a Seneca Valley graduate.

• Mike Stimac, who recorded 36 tackles and a fumble recovery last year, will start alongside Wagner at linebacker this year as a fellow Karns City graduate.

• Seneca Valley product Kellen Manning, a senior defensive lineman who recorded 12 tackles in a part-time role last season, will be a starter this season.

"No doubt. Butler County has been good to us,"Thiel coach Jack Leipheimer said. "We're hoping to find more quality players from down that way.

"The players voted Ricky and Jeff captains for a reason. They are the heart and soul of our football team."

Justin Sadler, a sophomore tight end from Moniteau, also is on the Tomcats' roster.

Thiel has been picked to repeat as PACchampion, despite graduating the most productive quarterback and wide receiver in school history. Darrell Satterfield threw for 4,870 yards and 46 touchdowns at Thiel while Brandon Chambers had 203 catches for 3,111 yards and 34 TDs.

"Hard work is what got us to this point and hard work will keep us there,"Gable said. "The athletes on this team are very dedicated to the program."

Leipheimer describes Gable as "a terrific blue-collar guy who has a work ethic second to none."

Minton enters this season needing just 537 yards and six touchdowns to set Thiel career rushing records in both categories. He had 1,066 yards rushing and 19 TDs despite missing a few games late in the year due to an injury.

"As good as he's been, Steve can get a lot better," Leipheimer said. "He can read and execute his blocks better, work on his pass protection and become an every-down back."

Minton was second in the PACin rushing and scoring last season.

Wagner led the Tomcats with 94 tackles — 56 solo — and had two interceptions. He calls the team's defensive signals.

"I'll get a little more vocal, maybe, now that I'm a senior," Wagner said. "Besides that, I don't see my role changing much this year."

Stimac had 22 solo tackles last season and is joining Wagner and Keystone graduate Sam Swartzfager to give the Tomcats a starting linebacker corps from the Keystone-Shortway Athletic Conference.

"That's amazing, getting three starting linebackers from a conference of small schools,"Leipheimer said. "But all three of those guys can play."

So can Manning, who will be in the starting lineup for the first time as a senior after playing a reserve role the past three years.

Thiel had only two seniors in 2003. The Tomcats had 16 seniors last year and 22 seniors this season. Thiel has 23 juniors on the roster as well.

"We're gonna find out if we haven't lost our edge,"Leipheimer said. "The only way to handle success is to work harder. We'll see if we can sustain what we've accomplished to this point."