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Bartlett
Head Coach: Matthew Erlenbaugh (2nd season, 7-3)Last year's record: 7-3
Key returners: Matt Young (WR), Tyler Rivelli (RB/OLB), Alex Palella (TE/LB), Brendan Gran (LB), Liam Gallagher (CB), Dan Angelone (OL/DE), Hayden Angell (WR), Nathan Tamaso (DT).
Notable newcomers: Mike Priami (QB), Max Norlund (OLB/TE).
Outlook: The Hawks flipped their record last season under new coach Matthew Erlenbaugh, going from 2-7 in 2017 to 7-3 in 2018. One of Bartlett's two regular season losses last season came from West Aurora, which has moved to the Southwest Prairie conference. The Hawks return a lot of junior starters, and will be looking to continue last season's improvement. QB Mike Priami takes over for Jonah O'Brien, and the Hawks will also need to replace RB Nick Deckard.
Elgin
Head Coach: Anthony Mason (5th season, 5-31)
Last year's record: 2-7
Key returners: Xavier Bonds (ATH), Alex West (ATH), Brandon Bridges (RB), David Berendt (OL), Darien Jackson (WR), Noah Mack (DB), Jaylen Chaney (DB), Matt Perez (DT).
Notable newcomers: Gio Griffin (ATH), Jeffery Lomax (ATH), Will Zamecnik (OL), Matt Stine (DL), Fabian Gonzalez (ATH).
Outlook: Senior Xavier Bonds headlines the Elgin roster. Bonds is an impact player on both sides of the ball, and the Maroons will try to get him the ball often on offense. Alex West should also make an impact playing both ways.Elgin will feature a lot of juniors who got varsity experience as sophomores, according to coach Anthony, who said the focus for the Maroons is on mental toughness and finishing. Elgin will need to improve defensively from 2018, when it allowed 27 points or more in eight of nine games.
Glenbard East
Head Coach: John Walters (9th season, 28-47)
Last year's record: 10-1
Key returners: Jason Torrevillas (S/RB), Conor Peterson (OG/DT), Doug Pham (LB), Danny Quirk (LB), Illiaz Lemes (DE), Chris Whitehead (RB).
Notable newcomers: Connor Cerkas (QB), Ladonus Rogers (WR), Ben Wightkin (C), Davis Hritz (CB), Danny Schager (CB).
Outlook: The Rams burst onto the scene last year with a 10-1 record, winning more games than their last three seasons combined and making the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Glenbard East has to replace a lot on offense after graduating QB Bret Bushka, leading WR Jeremy Johnson and its top three rushers. Coach John Walters said his team was very young but athletic.
Glenbard South
Head Coach: Ryan Crissey (5th season, 22-20)
Last year's record: 5-5
Key returners: Nick Plaso (QB), Kylen Henderson (RB), Brendan Fearon (LT), Kyle Bailey (LG), Johnny Golden (C), Yazan Blan (WR), Trevor Burnett (WR/RB), Cade Hardtke (WR), Tajuan McKinnie (CB), Connor Murphy (DE), TJ Burnett (DT), Faiz Hameed (DT), Cade DiFranco (LB), Tony Ashley (LB).
Outlook: The Raiders want to take their hot start from last season, 4-1 in their first five, and stretch it across the second half. Glenbard South will have the same schedule as last year, with Fenton sliding into Week 6 in lieu of West Aurora. South will be a young team laden with skilled sophomores and juniors. The Raiders have experience, too, with senior quarterback Nick Plaso at the helm on offense, He'll be protected by a returning left tackle Brendan Fearon, left guard Kyle Bailey and center Johnny Golden.
Fenton
Head Coach: Matt Lynch (3rd season, 6-12)
Last year's record: 4-5
Key returners: Julian Giles, Ethan Doliente, Andre Bess, Angelo Mendoza, Eric Moreno, ndre reed, Ethan Queyquep, John Salgado.
Notable newcomers: Vince Eltman, Nickolas Benn, Frank Krygier.
Outlook: The Bison went from 2-7 to 4-5 in coach Matt Lynch's second season, but it's difficult to predict what 2019 holds in store for Fenton as it transitions from the Metro Suburban Red. Last season, Fenton was the larger team in seven of their games, this year that number drops to one. With that being said, the Bison will have time to get their bearings with their three straight games against teams that missed the playoffs to start the season. Fenton returns eight starters from last season, according to Lynch, mostly on offense.
South Elgin
Head Coach: Dragan Teonic (2nd season, 6-4)
Last year's record: 6-4
Key returners: Michael Roath (OL), Sam Minnifield (OL), Vince Tringali (OL), AJ Cubberley (OL/DL), Andy Koch (TE), Leo Aguirre (RB), Calin Gurau (WR), Cris Mejia (WR), Shaking Marshall (WR/DB), Davion Cherwin (WR/DB), Dylan Bernal (DL), Jake Wascher (DL), Vince Clinite (LB), Sam Robles (LB), Anthony Viscuso (LB), Andrew Bucaro (K).
Notable newcomers: Ben Karpowicz (QB), Anthony Cirrincione (TE/DE), Corve King (TE/DE), marquis Gillespie (WR/DB), Jacob Cooper (OL/DL), Alex Noworol (WR/DB), Robby Gilman (RB/LB), Eron Mahmudi (QB/LB), Tony DeRosa (LB/DB).
Outlook: The Storm return 10 starters on offense, eight starters on defense to give the team high expectations heading into coach Dragan Teonic's second season. South Elgin is loaded at wide receiver, led by all-conference senior Shaking Marshall. Calin Gurau, Cris Mejia and Davion Cherwin will all make an impact. The Storm also return four starters on the offensive line, including all-conference junior Michael Roath. South Elgin should be in good position to challenge for the conference title.
Streamwood
Head Coach: Don Guindon (5th year, 7-29)
Last year's record: 1-8
Key returners: Josh Leathers (OL), Sirrion Dixon (RB), TJ Phan (LB), Richard Santiago (WR).
Notable newcomers: Richard Rodriguez (OL), Eric Gomez (OL), Andrew Phan (QB), Tre Sanders (LB), Nick Larak (DL).
Outlook: The Sabres bring back offensive lineman Josh Leathers, who has offers from Valporaiso and St. Francis. Coach Don Guindon said he is excited by the summer and offseason the Sabres put together. Streamwood will have to improve significantly on offense from last season, when they managed only 72 total points for the year.
Editor's note: East Aurora, Larkin and West Chicago did not respond to requests for information.