Like a midnight snack, spring football is here to tide us over until August brings the dawn of a new season.

But without knowing which juco transfers will make an impact, which reserves are set for breakout seasons and how far underclassmen starters will progress, spring projections are just debate fodder until something more tangible comes along.

And since that’s six months away, let’s project away. Until someone actually beats Northwest, the Bearcats are my No. 1. Two through six is really a crap-shoot at this point.

I slotted the Mules at No. 2, but they’ll actually have to beat Western to make it stick. The Griffons have playoff-caliber talent, Pittsburg always seems to have a stable of guys ready to replace those departed seniors and Washburn has turned itself into a perennial contender.

So for what it’s worth, which is very little, here is my tentative preseason poll.

Spring Poll

1. Northwest

2. Central

3. Western

4. Pittsburg

5. Washburn

6. Omaha

7. Southern

8. Emporia

9. Hays

10. Truman

As for Western’s scrimmage Saturday, the Griffons’ defense (one of the conference’s most suspect last season) looked solid — especially in pass coverage. The defensive ends were able to take away a lot of Western’s short passing routes because coach Jerry Partridge prohibited his O-linemen from cutting pass rushers.

But Western’s corners — especially Kendall Davis — looked much better. The Griffons shouldn’t have any worries at linebacker with Matt Glades returning from a knee injury that cost him all of 2008. Sean Whiters will be one of the conference’s elite backers next season, and Deondre Williams and Tom Madget are solid players as well.

As for the offense, the addition of some option to the running attack was a nice wrinkle. Thomas Hodges broke a big run on an option-pitch play, and I think freshman Michael Hill will excel in space on the perimeter. Hill shows the potential to be a 1,000-yard rusher and make Griffon fans forget about La’Darrian Page — as evidenced by the freshman’s 73-yard run Saturday, a weaving, zig-zagging saunter through the Western defense.

Freshman tight end David Fowler (6-foot-4, 220 pounds from Unionville, Mo.) looks like a prime candidate to replace Al Prado. Fowler went up in the corner of the end zone and brought down a nice touchdown catch in between two defenders Saturday. He has good hands for a big man, much like Prado.

According to Partridge, quarterback Drew Newhart had a terrific, all-around spring and should bounce back strong this season. Newhart has one of the most talented receiving corps in the league and an experienced offensive line.

There still are some questions — place kicker, punter, defensive end. But this Western team should make the playoffs with seven home games, two very winnable nonconference contests and a balanced roster.

So let the debate continue. It’s only six months until football season.