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"I can understand why we're picked to win. Since I've been here, senior dominated teams have won the district. We have 24 returning seniors, of which about 14 play most of the time. We are a senior dominated team, and I can understand about being picked to win and expected to have a good football team," said head coach Larry Favre.

Favre said his team, mainly its defense, had its share of problems at the end of last season when it lost three of its last four games. Most disappointing than any other was the end of the regular season 34-10 loss to St. Paul's. Had the Bulldogs won, they would have won a share of the school's first-ever football district championship.

Favre has made moves to improve his defense with a group of what he calls "linebacker type" players. By the time district comes around he hopes to have his two best players, Christian Ducre and Korte, playing on the defensive side of the ball as well as on offense. Ducre will play at the safety position, a spot where his athleticism can really be showcased. Korte is expected to see time at the linebacker position if he is able to shake off a hamstring injury, which has prevented him from practicing on defense. Korte played linebacker before coming to Fontainebleau.

The Bulldogs finished last year with a 6-5 overall record and 5-2 district mark.

Chasing the Bulldogs in a very close poll were the Lions of Covington and the Tigers of Slidell. Fontainebleau received 44 votes in the poll. Covington got 43 votes, and Slidell followed with 41.

Covington, like Fontainebleau, returns a talented group of senior players to go along with the district's leading rusher of last season in junior Patrick Henry. Henry was timed at 4.37 in the 40 at the LSU football camp during the summer and at 4.4 just a few days ago, and he said he expects to improve on his league-leading 1,658 rushing yards of last season.

The Lions, who faced a tough opening district schedule, beat Slidell but then lost its next two games to finish tied with Fontainebleau for second place in the district. In fact, the Lions finished with the identical overall record.

Probably the biggest loss the Lions suffered last season was its second district game to Ponchatoula. The 20-14 loss turned out to be Ponchatoula's only district win of the year.

The Lions have at least two players being recruited and have their entire offensive backfield returning this season. Seniors, quarterback Corey Leonard and Shayne Magee, rejoin Henry to form one of the district's top offensive backfields.

"I picked those three teams to finish around the top. I also look at it as it happened last year and the year before. In our district anybody can beat anybody on Friday night. If you're not ready to play and you don't go play the game, you're going to get beat." Covington coach Darryl Graham said.

Slidell had a powerful team last year that really had to show what it was made of to win the district championship. The Tigers finished the season 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the district. After a resounding 45-21 loss to Fontainebleau to open district play, it had to go three overtimes before putting away Mandeville and probably what was the league's best defense.

After that the Tigers coasted through the rest of the district schedule until the last game of the regular season. Slidell had to battle cross-town rival Northshore for a 27-24 win and the district championship.

The Tigers are looking for its third consecutive district title, a feat never before accomplished in the long and storied history of Slidell High football.

Mandeville was picked to finished fourth, and St. Paul's was picked to finish tied for last place along with Ponchatoula.

The Skippers will again count on its defense. They do have the advantage of senior quarterback Patrick Mauti having a year's experience under his belt. Mauti was thrown into the fire during last year's jamboree when starting quarterback Brandon Ledet went down with a season-ending injury.

Key to the Skippers will be the running of Timmy Demelo and his running mates. The Skippers will again be running the veer offense.

"I think it's going to be a very competitive district. I don't think one team is going to dominate. I personally picked Slidell first because they have been the district champs for the last two years. That has nothing to do with the fact that I feel that we can compete for the championship like everyone else," said Mandeville coach Rodney Corkern.

St. Paul's made a big step forward last year and is looking to build on that success. The Wolves had it first non-losing season since moving up to Class 5-5A.

If the Wolves are to move to the playoffs this season, it will have to depend on the play of its defense. Nine players return from a unit that showed a lot of promise last season.

"It (the poll) gives us something to motivate our kids to reach and get into the top three. We haven't played a game yet, and that's the way people feel about us. They don't think that we're that good. It's always motivation to strive to get better. It's not how you start, it's how you finish. A poll is an opinion, and opinions can be proven wrong," said St. Paul's coach Ken Sears.

"I think the most important poll is the one at the end. Based on last year's performances and based on who has what coming back, the results of the poll are really good. Fontainebleau and Covington are the two teams to beat, and everyone else will be taking a shot to finish third realistically speaking," said Hammond coach Carman Moore, whose team was picked to finish fifth.

Complete poll results were (team, total votes): 1. Fontainebleau, 44; 2. Covington, 43; 3. Slidell, 41; 4. Mandeville, 29; 5. Hammond, 21; 6. Northshore, 16; 7. Ponchatoula, 15; 7. St. Paul's, 15.