Hillsdale Knights embracing the youth movement

“We’re definitely going to allow ourselves to have some fresh blood out there. These kids (from the frosh-soph squad) have had some success. Now they just have to parlay that into varsity success,” Parodi said. “They’re definitely a confident group of kids. We encourage that confidence to a point. I think that helps them be successful. They feel good about themselves. But there is a major difference between last year and this year.”

More good news for the Knights: the offense should be in good shape with the return of senior quarterback Brett Wetteland and senior running back Cameron Taylor. Wetteland is a three-year starter and has continued to grow as a signal caller. Parodi said Wetteland will come off the field now and tell the coach what he did right and wrong. Last season, Wetteland averaged 191 yards passing per game, including a 345-yard performance against Saratoga in the season opener and a 295-yard effort against Mills.

“He’s doing great. … He’s all in,” Parodi said of Wetteland. “We’re in that advanced football class now. He’s seeing how our offense works and understanding what to do next to make it work better.”

Taylor is the Knights’ top returning tailback, who was second on the team last season with 444 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per carry on just 62 carries.

“[Taylor is] definitely our best football player — on both sides of the ball,” Parodi said. “He’s a senior, he’s getting first crack at carries. He’s going to, pun intended, take the ball and run with it. (We’ll) see what he can do with 20 carries a game.”

Taylor won’t be a one-man show, however. Parodi said a pair of juniors — Nate Rosas and Rafael Lugo-Fuentes — along with sophomore Nick Hulman will rotate into the backfield.

While Hulman will focus mainly on defense as a starting linebacker, Parodi wants to get him some carries as well.

“The last few years, we’ve always had a really good senior, really good junior and really good sophomore (at running back),” Parodi said. “We want to get [Hulman] some reps because he’s a pretty darn good football player.”

One question offensive question mark is at the receiver position, where the Knights graduated all but Taylor who caught a pass last season. They do, however, have a number of pass catchers waiting in the wings. Parodi is especially high on a pair of juniors — Ben Carrithers and Isaiah Cozzolino. What they may lack in varsity experience they will make up for with their height. At 6-3 and 6-4, respectively, Carrithers and Cozzolino give the Knights something they haven’t had in a long time — tall receivers.

“The receivers are usually my height,” said the 5-7 Parodi. “(Carrithers and Cozzolino are) both very good. They’re good at their craft.”

Joining the receiving corps are senior Josh Janakes, junior Nate Shani and sophomore Joey Sabel.

“(Janakes) is super athletic. We’re just trying to find the best place to get him goin,” Parodi said. “It’s been working out really well (between Wetteland and the receivers). They’ve done their best to mesh.”

The offensive line should be solid with three returners from last season. Michael Mounga will anchor the line, along with Matthew Roloff, a junior who started on the defensive line a year ago. Marcel White played varsity as sophomore last season. Juniors Michael Bateman and Kiko Sandoval will also factor into the mix.

As is usually the case, many of those offensive linemen will double on the defensive line as well. Siua Etu will hold down one of the linebacker spots, while Parodi is excited to see what senior Austin Mah brings to the table.

A standout on the Knights’ boys’ soccer team, Mah is playing football for the first time, but Parodi likes what he has seen so far.

“He’s taught me that in high school football, we just need to get athletes on the field,” Parodi said.

Parodi believes the key to the defense will be the linebackers and defensive backs.

“Our back seven will be really important. I think our defensive backfield will be pretty strong against a lot of spread offenses,” Parodi said.

In fact, he thinks this year’s defense might have a chance to be even better considering they win be playing teams that mostly are looking to stretch the field horizontally with spread formations.

“A few years ago, we played eight teams that were I-back teams,” Parodi said. “This year, I think it’s two.”

Head coach: Mike Parodi, 7th year

2014 record: 3-2 PAL Ocean, 6-4 overall

Key returners: Brett Wetteland (sr., QB); Cameron Taylor (sr., RB/DB); Michael Mounga (sr., OL/DL); Matthew Roloff (jr., OL/DL); Marcel White (jr. OL/LB); Josh Janakes (sr., WR/DB)

Key newcomers: Austin Mah (sr., WR/DB), Siua Etu (sr., LB/WR), Michael Bateman (jr., OL/DL); Nate Rosas (jr., RB/CB); Nick Hulman (so., RB/LB); Rafael Lugo-Fuentes (jr., RB/S), Ben Carrithers (6-3, jr., WR/DB); Isaiah Cozzolino (jr., 6-4, WR/DB) Nate Shani (jr. WR/CB); Joey Sabel (so., WR/DB); Kiko Sandoval (jr., OL/LB)

2015 schedule:

9/4, SARATOGA, 7 p.m.

9/12, @ Lincoln-SF, 2 p.m.

9/18, CAPUCHINO, 7 p.m.

9/25, @ Christopher-Gilroy, 7:30 p.m.

10/9 KING’S ACADEMY, 7 p.m.

10/16 WOODSIDE, 7 p.m.

10/23, @ South City, 7 p.m.

10/30, @ Half Moon Bay, 7 p.m.

11/6, MENLO SCHOOL, 7 p.m.

11/13, ARAGON, 7 p.m.

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