With seven starters returning on both sides of the pigskin, the Christiansburg Blue Demons are poised to win the River Ridge District, along with making another run deep into the playoffs this season.

The Blue Demons finished fourth in the district with a 2-3 mark. However, a late season run saw Christiansburg win the Region IV, Division 4 crown, before falling to Amherst County in the state semifinals to end its season with a 10-4 mark.

Returning starters include Brenden Motley (junior, QB/FS), Stephen Wills (senior, WR), Zach Snell (junior, RB), Greg Lee (senior, TB), Nate St.Clair (senior, OT), Matt Cruz (senior, OG/LB), Dorian Rose (senior/OG), Alex Dunn (junior, DE), Ethan Thompson (senior, LB), Drew Bibb (senior, LB), Josh Winkle (senior, CB) and Preston Graves (senior, CB).

Coach Tim Cromer, who is entering his ninth year as the head Blue Demon, looks for Motley, Wills, Lee, Snell, Cruz, Dunn, Thompson, Bibb and Winkle to be his top players to make an impact this season.

"We had a great finish to our 2009 season and we have built on the playoff success," said Cromer. "However, we have some issues to work out as far as the regular season district schedule goes. But, we are not getting ahead of ourselves. We want to win...practice everyday, and as they come, the games will take care of themselves."

As for the team's strengths this fall, the coach said they were at the skill positions, special teams, along with the momentum from last season and a great offseason.

Inexperience on the offensive and defensive line appears to be the only weakness thus far,

Cromer sees the top game of the season coming on Oct. 22, when the Blue Demons travel to Salem to take on the always tough Spartans.

"I love the potential of this team," added Cromer. "They have really worked hard and have put themselves in position to have an outstanding year."

Christiansburg opens up its regular season on Friday, Aug. 27, when they entertain the Floyd County Buffaloes in a 7:30 p.m. encounter.