FOOTHILL

1997 RECORD: 6-6 overall, 4-1 in league

COACH: Casey Mazzotta (0-0 at school)

RETURNING STARTERS: 5 on offense, 5 on defense

TOP RETURNERS

Skyler Champion, RB, 5-11, 190, Jr.; Darren Crume, WR/DB, 5-8, 160, Sr.; Robby Koster, QB, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Norm Katnik, OT, 6-4, 240, Sr.; David Liti, DT, 5-11, 295, Jr.; Terrence Newman, LB, 5-11, 205, Sr.; Dana Pino-Dempsey, S, 6-1, 210, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

Matt Goto, LB, 5-8, 180, So.; Eric Perugini, 5-10, 170, DB/WR, Sr.

OUTLOOK

Mazzotta was the head coach at Bellflower High the past two seasons. He also played at Brigham Young and Tustin High. He takes over for Tom Meiss, who is now the quarterback coach at Chapman. Meiss led the Knights to four league titles in six seasons but Mazzotta could be hard pressed to find a way for Foothill to defend the league title it shared with Villa Park last season because the transition began so late. Mazzotta’s staff wasn’t in place until mid-July. “But the kids catch on real quickly,” Mazzotta said. “They’re working hard.” He isn’t too concerned with the offense, with starting quarterback Koster and 1,000-yard rusher Champion returning. Katnik is also a key returner on the offensive line who will help set the tone. “We have some people who can do some things,” Mazzotta said. “We just have to find a way to get them the ball.” Crume, Pino-Dempsey and Perugini are three other players Mazzotta hopes will charge the offense. The defense is another matter. With five juniors and sophomores slated to start, Mazzotta said their development will be a key. “We need to stop people first,” Mazzotta said, “and we’ll be tested.” The Knights have a tough nonleague schedule, but wins and losses here have never been the best indicators. When Foothill won league titles in ’97 and ‘94, the Knights were 1-4 in nonleague games.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 11 at Tustin; 18 vs. Woodbridge at Tustin HS; 25 at Capistrano Valley.

Oct. 2 vs. El Toro at Trabuco Hills HS; 9 vs. San Clemente at Tustin HS; 16 at El Modena; 23 vs. Villa Park at Tustin HS; 31 vs. Canyon at Tustin HS.

Nov. 5 vs. Santa Ana Valley at Santa Ana Stadium; 13 vs. Orange at Tustin HS.