Buhach Colony Thunder

Coach: Kevin Swartwood

Career record: 37-30

Record at school: 37-30

Last year: Buhach Colony (12-1, 5-0) went 12-0 for the second year in a row before falling in the section Division 2 semifinal, a 27-17 setback at the hands of Vacaville. The Thunder averaged 41 points and gave up 16, with its massive offensive line and ground game chewing up the clock.

Last league title: 2011

Last playoff berth: 2011

Coaching staff: Kevin Navarra (defensive coordinator), Jerry Dietz (offensive coordinator), Roger Johnson Paul Scoggins, Phil Riggins, Greg Wakefield, Mike Bell, Sam Parker, Tommy Bone, Wayne Fitzgerald and Rod Cochran.

Top returners: OL/DL Aaron Cochran (6-8, 340), RB/DB Tyler Dew (5-10, 160), Stefon Gold (5-9, 185), RB/DL Kevin Kelleher (6-0, 210, jr.), RB/S Leon Miles (5-9, 170), RB/DB Jayce Webster (5-10, 160), WR/DB Cody McWilliams (6-0, 155), QB/S Joe Marquez (6-1, 165), TE/OLB Felix Borruel (6-5, 185), TE/ILB Tyson Coffey (5-10, 180), OL/DL Victor Garcia (6-2, 230), OL/DL David Waites (6-1, 245), WR/DB Matt Thibault (5-9, 165), OL/DL Anthony Robertson (6-3, 265), OL/ILB Andrew Ruiz (5-10, 175).

Top newcomers: RB/DB Roosevelt Edwards (5-8, 140, jr.), RB/OLB Steven Strasser (5-10, 170), WR/DB Johnathan Morrow (6-0, 170, jr.)

Outlook: Last year’s massive offensive line, which include Cal recruit Matt Cochran at center, needs to be rebuilt and there are also holes on the defensive front to be filled. There’s not a deeper backfield in the district, with Gold (931 yards, 7.6-yard avg., 16 TDs), Miles (809, 6.9, 9 TDs, Dew (462 yards, 10.7, 6 TDs) and Kelleher (474, 7.3, 5) each getting at least 40 carries last fall. … The tall and wide Cochran is a top recruit with offers from Cal, Oklahoma, Notre Drame, Washington and Colorado. … A deep and talented coaching staff (many were with Mark Speckman during Merced’s glory days), and Swartwood was 143-34 in his years as an assistant coach. … Marquez steps in at QB, and the Thunder needs to develop a passing attack to keep defenses from stacking the line.

Key game: Week 6 (Oct. 5) vs. Pitman. The conference title will likely be decided in this CCC opener. They finished 1-2 last year and both return plenty of talent after BC won a 27-24 thriller last fall. The Thunder play three potent programs in the early season, and could be 5-0 or 2-3 going into this game.