He takes over a team that has won at least 10 games for the last eight seasons, is loaded with returning talent and added one of the nation's most heralded prep running backs.

It sounds like a pretty good position to make a head coaching debut, but St. Bonaventure High's Todd Therrien is aware of the other side of the equation.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't feeling pressure," says Therrien, who added head coach to his title of defensive coordinator when longtime Seraphs coach Jon Mack moved on to Ventura College.

"It's a little bit tough out here," says Therrien, a St. Bonaventure graduate who has been on the Seraphs coaching staff since 1998. "Obviously the expectations, especially this year with what we had last year, are high. And we're trying to live up to them. I thought it would be a little easier, considering that I've done a lot around here the last five years, but I kind of had to find my own swagger as a head coach, just as we've got to find our swagger as a team."

As a team, the Seraphs certainly have reason to swagger. In the aforementioned eight-year run, they are 105-5, with six CIF-Southern Section championships, and have yet to lose a Channel League game since joining the league in 2002. Last year's 10-2 season was the first time the Seraphs had suffered more than one loss in a season since 1998, when they were 8-4.

From that team, they retain four first-team all-league selections — running back Patrick Hall, offensive lineman Vaughn Dotsy, linebacker Ryan Panapa and defensive lineman Ryan Medina — part of a group of returnees including quarterback Tony Macarena, receiver KC Serna (second in receiving and third in scoring a year ago), and three of last year's top six tacklers (Panapa, Medina and Loren Powers) among others.

Oh, and on top of that, there's the not-so-little matter of Darrell Scott, the 6-foot-2 offensive force who transferred to St. Bonaventure after rushing for more than 3,000 yards last season at Moorpark High, becoming a fixture in national college recruiting discussions in the process.

"It's not hype," says Therrien. "He is phenomenal. Downright phenomenal. He had a play (in practice) were he jumped over a guy and on the way down stiff-armed another one and scored a touchdown. It was unbelievable."

Put it all together, and it's no wonder the prevailing view remains that of Buena coach Justin Berenson, who says of the Seraphs, "As young as they were last year, and putting up as many points as they did with sophomores, they're still the team to beat."

Which is not to say the rest of the league is conceding the prospect of doing just that.

"We've played them pretty tough," said San Marcos coach Dare Holdren. "The (difference in) talent level is the obvious thing. At least our firsts (first-team players) are comparable. In past years, that hasn't always been the case.

"If we put together a great game, there's no reason why we can't get it done. There's nothing that says they have to win every league game."

While much is expected of the Seraphs, the other Channel teams certainly have reason for their own high expectations. The other five teams can realistically harbor playoff expectations, and that certainly includes St. Bonaventure's crosstown rivals.

Ventura, coming off a third-place finish (4-7, 3-2) is also held in high regard around the league. "They were good, and their JVs were good," said Jeff Uyesaka of Dos Pueblos, who coached the Chargers to a second-place finish last year.

The Cougars feature an interesting blend of newcomers and returning players — interesting, particularly, because neither the experience nor inexperience are congregated in any one area. Coach Brad Steward's first look at a tentative starting lineup includes 14 seniors and eight juniors — with seven seniors on both offense and defense.

"We're young in spots, but experienced in others," Steward said. Most notable among the experienced are two returning all-leaguers: Quarterback Blake Kreutz, who passed for more than 1,900 yards last year, and defensive back Brandon Dore, also a dangerous kick returner. Others of note are running back Michael McFadden, who has worked to build his strength and speed after rushing for 500 yards last year; linebacker John Tuschka, a defensive leader; Christian Savala, described by Steward as "kind of a combination wide receiver-running back. We expect him to be one of our major weapons;" and junior center Matt Mendle, who responded well after being promoted to the varsity in midseason.

Buena (3-7, 0-5 a year ago) will look for a breakthrough year with a senior class that is the first to play its entire career with Berenson as the Bulldogs head coach.

"I know we're a little young defensively," said Berenson, whose early preseason projection had just four seniors starting on defense, "but this group of kids is different than any group of kids I've had at Buena. These kids were my first class coming in, so they understand the expectations and understand what I want from them. They know what is acceptable and what's not acceptable. And they're understanding what it takes to try to win football games, and what attitude and effort will lose you football games."

Buena came close to a breakthrough last year, seeing three close league games slip away after winning three times in the preseason. "We just couldn't hold on at the end," says Berenson. "And I just think that came from inexperience at some positions."

This year, the Bulldogs will try to draw experience from players including tailback Vince McCowan, a second-team fullback last year; sophomore tight end Tyler Perry, who started eight games as a freshman, and tackle James Nelson. On defense, two senior defensive backs — cornerback Dakota Lovejoy and free safety Anthony Pelupessy — will try to lead the younger players around them.

Dos Pueblos returns the core of its offensive skill players — quarterback Gary Braun, who won three games as a starter; running back Nick Sarricchio and receiver Derek Martinez, as well as center Moses Martinez, a third-year varsity player. The challenge will be to rebuild the rest of the offensive line, "a strength last year," Uyesaka said. His defense returns eight of 11 players, including Aki Franklin, a second-team all-league defensive back who will also see action at receiver and return kicks.

Dos Pueblos' concern — the offensive line — is what Holdren considers a strength at San Marcos. "We've got a lot of guys who are somewhat experienced competing for spots, and some big guys at tackle," Holdren said. Top returnees include tailback Andy Segal, nose guard Juan Carlos Toral, defensive back Paul Samario, and kicker-slotback-cornerback Michael Hodson. "You can't keep this guy from getting out there," Holdren says of Hodson.

Santa Barbara coach Will Gonzales (1-9 a year ago) returns junior quarterback/tight end Bryson Lloyd, an all-league selection a year ago, and most of the elements of last season's passing game: quarterback Tyler Madden and his two three receivers, Angel Tamayo and Lloyd.