1. Star power: In terms of gotta-see-’em players, the Suburban East is loaded. There’s the obvious — Cretin-Derham Hall’s Jashon Cornell and East Ridge’s Division I juniors Seth Green (QB), Kjetil Cline (WR) and JoJo Garcia (DT) — but they are hardly the whole show. Stillwater has 2013’s leading rusher Zach Knox as well as the year’s fastest player receiver in Brooks Carroll. Mounds View’s Charlie Callahan has the potential to be a beast at DE, and Rose- ville slot back Tommy Arcand will draw attention away from receiver Jesper Horsted.

2. Nine is enough: With Hastings’ decision to move to the Metro East, the SEC is back to a nine-team league. One would think that, with an eight-game regular season, scheduling would be a breeze. But, of course, it’s not that simple. Only Cretin plays all eight of its games against conference foes.

3. Will Cretin finally show? Cretin-Derham Hall has had unexpectedly early playoff exits in each of the past two seasons. Can the talent-rich Raiders avoid setbacks and get back to the state tournament?

JIM PAULSEN