PREP FOOTBALL ’99 : CENTURY LEAGUE : FOOTHILL

1998 RECORD: 6-5 overall, 4-1 in league

COACH: Casey Mazzotta (6-5 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 5 on offense, 5 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Skyler Champion, RB, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Robert Garey, LB, 5-10, 180, Jr.; Matt Goto, RB/LB, 5-10, 180, Jr.; David Liti, OL/DL, 6-0, 290, Sr.; Jordan Parsons, WR/DB, 5-11, 180, Sr.; Jason Seniff, OL/DE, 6-1, 205, Jr.; Mike Whiddon, WR, 5-11, 180, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Derrick Fitch, QB, 5-10, 175, So.; Dujuan Smith, RB, 5-4, 170, Jr.

OUTLOOK

Thirty-one players return from last season, so the Knights have some valuable experience. And now that Mazzotta has his complete, off-season weightlifting and training regimen in place, he’s confident the Knights will reap the benefits. “We don’t have a lot of stars here,” Mazzotta said. But there are plenty of bright spots, like Champion, who gained 1,000 yards rushing as a sophomore but missed five games with a knee injury last season. Liti, whom Mazzotta calls the strongest player he has ever coached, and Seniff are two starters returning on the offensive line. The biggest question offensively is at quarterback where Fitch, a sophomore, gets the early nod. “He’s really a rookie,” Mazzotta said. “But some kids you can just tell. In the huddle, he’s comfortable directing guys, being a leader.” Leading the defense are Garey and Goto, two quick, hard-hitting linebackers.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 9 at Tustin; 17 vs. Woodbridge at Irvine HS; 24 vs. Capistrano Valley at Tustin HS.

Oct. 1 vs. El Toro at Tustin HS; 8 at San Clemente; 15 vs. Villa Park at El Modena HS; 21 vs. Canyon at El Modena HS; 29 vs. Santa Ana Valley at Tustin HS.

Nov. 4 vs. Orange at El Modena HS; 12 vs. El Modena at Tustin HS.

SCHOOL WEB SITE

https://www.tustin.k12.ca.us/foothill/index.html