Despite not having the same amount of firepower that it has had the past two years, The Farmington Hills Harrison football team will still be favorites to win a third consecutive OAA White crown when the season kicks off next week.

In other words, even though they've lost the likes of Aaron Burbridge (Michigan State), Devin Funchess (Michigan), Mario Ojemudia (Michigan) and Jake Vento (Grand Valley State), the Hawks are still going to be mighty dangerous in 2012.

Leading the way for TEAM HERRINGTON on the gridiron and in the locker room this fall will be a triumvirate of senior three-year starters in Jake Slobin, Garius Coleman and Eddie Huckleby.

All three helped take Harrison to a state championship as sophomores in 2010. They enter the upcoming campaign with a sparkling 24-1 overall record in their time in the starting lineup.

Slobin is the lifeblood of the Hawks' line play on the both offense and defense. Coleman could be the best slot receiver in Oakland County and possibly the whole state. Huckleby is a beacon of versatility and can play on the line, any linebacker position and in the offensive backfield rushing the rock. He will start at inside linebacker this year and get touches in the running attack, especially near the goal line.

Sophomore Ryan Brand, who homeschooled last year, and junior Robert Powell, the Hawks' JV field general in 2011, are in the midst of a tooth-and-nail battle for starting quarterback duties with a week to go before the opener.

Harrison's featured running back will be junior thoroughbred Lorenzo Collins, who broke out as a genuine star last season after getting his feet wet on the varsity as a freshman on the 2010 state title squad. Collins is the perfect combination of grinder and deep threat.

Antonio McKelton, a senior co-captain with Slobin and Huckelby, will be a major force on offense besides Slobin on the line and at linebacker next to Huckleby.

Colby Nance and Noah Downs will flank Slobin and McKelton in the trenches and Rayquan Carter, the team's fastest player, and Dorian Fields, last year's back-up quarterback, will join Coleman in igniting the Hawks' passing game at wide receiver.

TEAM HERRINGTON takes the field to open the 2012 campaign on August 24 against PSL foe Detroit Renaissance.