GROVE CITY — Grove City High fullback Chris Clark no longer has to slog his way through ankle-deep mud.

Forker Field received a facelift this offseason after FieldTurf was installed, a new all-weather track encircles the field and new goal posts stand at either end of the black end zones.

The faster turf should help the Eagles show off some of their speedy weapons, like Clark.

"We should be faster on the field," Clark said. "It's not that crappy grass we were on last year."

Grass? Make that mud. A lot of mud.

The field conditions got so bad at the end of 2006 that the Eagles had to move their final home game to the Grove City College football field.

No such problem this year.

While the facility received an overhaul, there won't be much new when it comes to the players on the field.

Clark and Dwayne Martin will be back carrying the ball, hoping to add to their 2,200 combined yards last season.

Mike Burk and KeithRundle are battling for the starting quarterback position, and both saw time there last season.

And the offensive line, missing two key starters, might be in good shape after a productive camp.

"I'm really happy with the line," Bell said. "What I thought was going to be a problem area has turned into something that will be really good."

Bell moved two running backs to the offensive line, where Caleb David and Nick Miller will add valuable depth.

Grove City also will look to pass more in an effort to open even more running room for Clark and Martin.

As of press time, Burk and Rundle were in a dead heat for the starting job under center.

"If I had to start the season tomorrow," Bell said early in camp, "I'd be real happy starting either one of them."

Martin understands the importance of a passing game. The junior longs to catch passes in the open field and use his speed and elusiveness to wreck havoc with the opposing defense.

Bell plans to try to get Martin the ball more in space.

"I think I'd be a receiver if we passed the ball more," Martin said. "If the opponent is not afraid of the passing game, your running game is in trouble."

If the offensive line meshes and the passing game provides an adequate complement to Clark and Martin, it could be a promising season in a promising new facility.

In a scheduling quirk, Grove City won't open their new digs until September 28 — their fifth game of the fall.

Last year, Grove City went 7-4, winning a District 10 playoff game before losing toFairview 32-7 in the semifinals.

That denied the Eagles a matchup with rivalWilmington, the team Grove City took to the brink during the regular season.Wilmington went undefeated in the league.

"We have a lot of guys who last year were looking forward to playing Wilmington," Bell said. "Fairview kept us from that. They beat us twice last season and that is the first time a team has beaten me twice in a season. We get another shot at Fairview and at Wilmington this season."

How the Eagles do in those games will be a good litmus test.

"What I have heard is Fairview and Wilmington are the favorites (in District 10 Class AA)," Bell said. "There are several teams, like us, who are pretty good and can compete with them and make it an interesting season."