When you return just three starters on offense and defense, you will have to find a number of younger players to step in and take their place. This simple fact will be the echoing theme for the Aurora Houn' Dawg football team in 2013. Lost in that mix to graduation, as well, is Everett Basham, one of the top running backs in the Big 8 Conference last season. He has now taken his talents to Baker University.

Aurora started the 2012 season 3-0 and even cracked the state rankings, but that's when the wheels fell off, as the Houn's finished the campaign 3-7 and 2-5 in the conference. So this year's team may be looking for answers.

Aurora head football coach Rick Scholten, in his sixth year with Aurora, thinks he has those answers with this squad. The answers; youth and speed.

"We think we have some young players that have some pretty good speed ready to step in," said Scholten. "It's their time to step up and do that."

Leading the offense will be sophomore quarterback Josh Fronabarger. Senior running back William Blankenship will attempt to take some of the pressure off the young quarterback, as will junior Brad Marlar. The offensive line returns senior Garrett Bader, who Sholten can count on to be the leader in the trenches.

Other returning seniors for Aurora include: OL/DL Tyler Juracek, RB/DB Tristan Dunning, OL/DL Chris Wecker, OL/DL Jessie Blades and OL/DL Beau Williams.

So the Houn's may be young in the skill positions, but the offensive and defensive line should provide key leadership for Aurora's and the Big 8's primarily run-happy offenses.

"It all gets real when those Friday night lights come one," Scholten said. "We have challenged these kids to start well and finish strong. We are focused on getting Aurora better."

Aurora opens season play at home Friday, Aug. 30, with a 7 p.m. kickoff against Ava. The Houn's will then host East Newton of Sept. 6 before traveling to Seneca on Sept. 13 for its first round challenge.

The Bell Bowl against Mt. Vernon will also be played in Aurora this year, as Aurora will host the Mountaineers on Oct. 11.