Hillsdale has the players to win

When Jeff Scheller took over the Hillsdale program last year, he knew it would take a few years to bring the Knights back to the level of success he experienced in the early 1990s when he played for Hillsdale.

Although Hillsdale managed only one win last year, along with a tie, the Knights showed marked improvement from the beginning of the year to the end of the season.

Scheller hopes the Knights can take a few more steps to respectability this season.

"We were a bad team (at the beginning of the season)," Scheller said. "Then you fast forward to Half Moon Bay (a team the Knights rallied to tie 21-21) and of the last four games we played, two (teams) went to the Bay (Division) and two were in the Bay. We tried to step up to that level. On the bad side, we didn't know how to win."

One of the positives for the Knights is they return the Ocean Division's leading passing attack. Senior quarterback Wesley Price is in his second full year as a starter after starting the last half of his sophomore season. Price averaged 181 yards passing last season.

"He just works really hard," Scheller said of Price. "He's become a leader and everyone looks to him. He's proven he can go out there and do it."

Price benefits by having the division's two leading receivers - Erik Ratcliffe and Wilson Castro - returning for their senior seasons. Ratcliffe led the Ocean Division with 64 yards receiving per game and Castro was third at 43 yards per contest. It may take a little while for Castro to get going as he recovers from an injury.

An experienced offensive line should give Price plenty of time to throw as well as help develop a rushing attack that was virtually non-existent last season. Edwin Alvarez and Eric Nyberg return from last season and will be joined by junior Matt Hoskins.

"Everyone played there last year for the varsity," Scheller said of the offensive line unit. "Four out of the five started last year."

Junior Eddie Attaway will be challenged to jump-start a rushing attack that ran for only 416 yards last season. Attaway played mostly receiver for the frosh-soph team last year.

"He's not big but he has a huge heart," Scheller said.

"We didn't run at all last year. We've been working on it a lot this year," Scheller said. "(The running game) didn't materialize and we got caught in a lot of situations where it was third-and-long."

As for most football teams, the Knights success will rest on the play of the defense, a unit that struggled last season. Surprisingly, the Knights' 336 yards allowed was not the worst in the Ocean Division. Mills and Jefferson allowed more yards. A lot of the players on offense will be counted on stopping opposing teams on defense.

"All I can say is, we're going to be better and we'll see what happens," Scheller said. "I think the Ocean (Division) is kind of up for grabs."

Coach: Jeff Scheller

2004 record: 1-8-1 overall, 1-5-1 Ocean Division

Returning players: 17

Key returners: Wesley Price (QB, sr.), Erik Ratcliffe (WR, sr.), Edwin Alvarez (OL/LB, sr.), Eric Nyberg (OL/DL, sr.), Jeremy Jaime (TE/LB, jr.), Jaysn Chidester (WR/LB, jr.)

Key newcomers: Matt Hoskins (OL/DL, jr.), Eddie Attaway (RB/DB, jr.)

2005 schedule (home games in CAPS): 9/9 HARKER at P.A.L. Stadium, 7:30 p.m.; 9/16 at Cupertino, 7:15 p.m.; 9/23 at Sequoia, 7 p.m.; 9/30 MILLS, 3:15 p.m.; 10/7 at El Camino, 3 p.m.; 10/14 CAPUCHINO at Burlingame, 7 p.m.; 10/21 HALF MOON BAY, 3 p.m.; 10/28 at Menlo School, 3 p.m.; 11/4 JEFFERSON, 2:45 p.m.; 11/11 ARAGON, 11 p.m.