Here is the coaches’ 2009 predicted order of finish and team-by-team football capsules for the Southwestern Buckeye League, Southwestern Division:

1. Bellbrook

Nickname: Golden Eagles

Coach: Kevin Basinger (13th season)

2008 record: 5-5, 1-5 SWBL Southwestern (sixth place tie)

Three players to watch: Jay Bucher, QB/DB, sr.; Kyle McKinniss, WR, sr.; Bryan Baird, DE, jr.

Outlook: The Golden Eagles offense will center around returning quarterback Jay Bucher (6-foot-4, 220 pounds), who was a first-team all-league player. He’ll be protected by four returning offensive linemen in Zach Rogal, Matt Longo, Evan Haarmeyer and Colin Rogers. Tim Lovett will likely be the other starter on the line. Running the ball Justin Nevitt and Tommy Chitwood with Davean Greene at the fullback position.

Coach Kevin Basinger only has three returning starters on the defensive side of the ball, but believes his squad is deeper than it has been in the past. Jake O’Boyle and Bryan Baird will help anchor the front line, while Derek Andrews will be the stronghold in the secondary. Rogal, Longo and Bucher will play both ways most of the time for the Golden Eagles.

2. Eaton

Nickname: Eagles

Coach: Ron Neanen (22nd season)

2008 record: 5-5, 2-4 SWBL Southwestern (fifth place)

Three players to watch: Dalton Caudill, RB, sr.; Austin Fudge, QB/DB, sr.; Mason Islamovsky, OL/DL, sr.

Outlook: Defensively, Eaton is in a bit of a rebuilding mode, according to veteran coach Ron Neanen, but that stems only from a lack of experience, not being young. Senior quarterback Austin Fudge will help guide the defense from his spot in the secondary, while senior Mason Islamovsky will be the leader in the trenches.

To compensate, Neanen has switched to a base 40 defense in an effort to put more linemen and linebackers on the field where his strength lies.

Offensively, besides Fudge at QB, the Eagles return Dalton Caudill, who rushed for more than 1,400 yards a year ago. He’ll run behind a line that brings back three starters in Clint Shepherd, Cory McKinney and Islamovsky.

3. Valley View

Nickname: Spartans

Coach: Jay Niswonger (26th season)

2008 record: 7-4, 3-3 SWBL Southwestern (fourth place)

Three players to watch: Kyle Pohl, QB, jr.; Zac Cottingim, RB, sr.; David Day, LB, sr.

Outlook: The Spartans are trying to fill plenty of vacancies on offense and defense this year. Veteran coach Jay Niswonger has only one returning starter on each side of the ball — Kyle Pohl on offense and David Day on defense — although several players filling spots do have varsity experience.

One of those is Zac Cottingim, a running back who has shared time in the backfield since his freshman season. This will be Pohl’s first season as the starting quarterback. He was a wide receiver last year, catching 41 balls for 598 yards and four touchdowns.

Day will get help from Brandon Fox, J.P. Woodard, Matt Tegtmyer and Jaryd Henry, who is returning from an injury.

4. Franklin

Nickname: Wildcats

Coach: Rodney Roberts (fourth season)

2008 record: 6-5, 4-2 SWBL Southwestern (second place tie)

Three players to watch: Justin Rickard, QB/DB/P, sr.; Eric Hildenbrand, RB/LB, sr.; Christian Brislen, DL, jr.

Outlook: The Wildcats made the playoffs last season for the first time since 1993, and the excitement still hasn’t worn off.

Franklin lost a few key players to graduation, especially on defense, but still has plenty of talent coming up. Senior linebacker Eric Hildenbrand will be the main force in the middle of the defense. He’ll be joined by senior Spencer Matthews, as well as three returning seniors — Taylor Briggs, Cody Blackford and Rickard — in the secondary.

Hildenbrand and Rickard will also steer the offense, with help from running back Dylan Salyers and an o-line anchored by returning starters Robbie Fisher and Kyle Wilson.

4. Milton-Union

Nickname: Bulldogs

Coach: Bret Pearce (10th season)

2008 record: 3-7, 1-5 SWBL Southwestern (sixth place tie)

Three players to watch: Cory Warner, RB/LB, sr.; Kyle Wallace, OL/DL, sr.; Chris McCoy, QB/DB, sr.

Outlook: It was just a couple years ago when Milton-Union won the Southwestern Division title in back-to-back seasons (2006-2007), and Bret Pearce would like nothing better than to get his squad back to the top.

He’ll have to do it with six starters back on offense, including leading rusher Cory Warner, who had more than 900 yards on the ground last season.

On defense, seven starters are back, including three of four linebackers in Clay Robinson, Kyzer Davis and Warner.

Milton-Union reached the playoffs three consecutive seasons from 2005-07 before hitting a road block last year.

“We want to show everyone that last year’s team is gone,” Pearce said. “We have come out with a good attitude and we’re ready to go.”

6. Brookville

Nickname: Blue Devils

Coach: Mike Hetrick (ninth season)

2008 record: 10-1, 6-0 SWBL Southwestern (first place)

Three players to watch: Ryan Ekberg, RB/SS, sr.; Jason Stone, FB/LB, sr.; Jamie Riggs, OL/DL, sr.

Outlook: Brookville won the league title last year after having moved up to the bigger-school division just four years ago.

But many of those key players have graduated, according to coach Mike Hetrick, who hopes this is not a rebuilding year.

Hetrick does have several top players back, however, led by senior running backs Ryan Ekberg and Matt McIntosh, who will see most of the Blue Devils’ carries.

Those two, as well as seniors Jason Stone, Jamie Riggs and Kyle Hopkins, will lead the defense.

“We’re pretty young on both sides of the ball,” Hetrick said. “We have a lot of new guys filling in some spots, but they all know they have a lot of work to do. Just because we were successful last year doesn’t mean we will be this year, and that’s what we have been preaching to them.”

7. Oakwood

Nickname: Lumberjacks

Coach: Paul Stone (13th season)

2008 record: 8-4, 4-2 SWBL Southwestern (second place tie)

Three players to watch: Greg Ambrose, OL, sr.; Brian Dempsey, OL, sr.; Matt Carpenter, QB, jr.

Outlook: It could be a rough season for the Lumberjacks, who have gone to the playoffs in five of the last six seasons.

Veteran coach Paul Stone said his numbers are way down this year with only 48 kids out, and many of them on the green side of experience.

He will rely on two senior offensive linemen to help keep the Lumberjacks competitive. Greg Ambrose and Brian Dempsey are just two of eight returning starters in all.

Matt Carpenter will be the new signal caller. Stone had high praise for his offseason work ethic.

“He went to five camps and has increased his speed,” Stone said. “He looks tremendous. We’ll be putting a lot on him.”