Written by: Keller Sherman
It’s only been four years since the Hillcrest Knights’ most recent state title, but a disappointing 0-9 campaign in 2021 may make that 2018 title seem like a distant memory. Entering 2022, second-year coach Brennon Mossholder will look to prove that 2021 was a distant outlier and show that Hillcrest is still a contender in a loaded 4A High Country Conference and a team that can also make noise at the state level.
Even amidst the struggles of the 2021 campaign, there were some bright spots. Four losses were by one possession, showing that Hillcrest was just a few plays away from a much different season. Winning those close games will go a long way in setting the program up for success in 2022 and beyond.
Peyton King, Braxton Battleson, Drew Caldwell, and Braden Crystal will all be key returning pieces for the Knights in 2022. They will look to fill in the holes left behind by two departed seniors from last year’s team. These include Zach Greenig, whom Mossholder labels as “a big, physical presence on both sides of the ball” and Garrett Phippen, “a three year defensive starter that leaves a leadership void.”
Battleson will be expected to demonstrate his speed from the track on the gridiron in 2022. “Braxton was the fastest sophomore 100 meter runner in 4A last year. We think he could have a huge impact on both sides of the ball,” Mossholder said.
Mossholder also names Titan Larson as another player that he hopes to see carry over their skills from another sport. “Titan made the varsity basketball team as a freshman and is a terrific athlete,” he said. “He ran for over a thousand yards on the freshman team last season. He could make an impact on both sides of the ball on Friday nights.”
Expect Hillcrest to use a variety of offensive game plans in 2022. “We will use multiple formations, personnel and tempos to keep defenses on their toes. We are extremely athletic at all positions and will try to use our speed to our advantage,” Mossholder said. Improving the run game will be a focus for the team, but he believes that the talent at running back and on the offensive line is going to be strong in that area. “We have to run the ball more effectively than we did last year. We like our returning running backs and linemen and think we will be very improved up front,” he said.
The defense was the strength of the team in 2021. All four of Hillcrest’s one possession losses came when the team allowed 22 points or less. Eight starters return for the Knights meaning that this should also remain a strength in 2022. Even with all of the returning starters, Mossholder wants to see improvement in “playing situational football and getting off the field on third downs.”
Mossholder believes that a bright future is ahead for his program. “The biggest thing is that we are another year older, stronger, faster and more experienced,” he said. “We only graduated nine seniors and over 20 sophomores saw significant playing time last season. We have some very talented classes coming up that we are very excited about.”
The non-conference slate gives plenty of opportunities for the Knights to get some wins before heading into the always brutal 4A High Country Conference schedule. Mossholder believes that getting off to a hot start will be crucial for the team before heading into the meat of their schedule.
Hillcrest opens the 2022 campaign with a home date against Century in their first meeting since 2014. The Knights won all three previous meetings with the Diamondbacks by 30 or more points and will look to continue that trend in 2022.
A date at 5A foe Thunder Ridge is up next as Hillcrest looks to snap a two-game losing streak to the Titans. They’ll then hit the road for their first conference game of the season as they travel to Blackfoot to take on the Broncos, followed by another conference date at two-time defending 4A state champion Skyline.
The Knights will then play two non-conference games at home against Pocatello then on the road at Madison. The game against the Thunder will be the first since 2010 while the Bobcats beat the Knights 35-7 last season.
Despite the two toughest conference games being out of the way heading into the final stretch, there are no easy breaks in Hillcrest’s league. Bonneville is improved while Shelley was a surprise team in 2021 and Mossholder believes they will also be good in 2022. “Shelley can beat anyone on any given Friday. They are a big, physical team that runs the Wing T extremely well. They are very well coached and can control the clock for an entire game,” Mossholder said. The regular season concludes with a home game against Idaho Falls, who returns to the 4A classification after a two-year stint at 5A.
The talent is there for Hillcrest to potentially surprise in 2022. If the talent plays up to potential and they can find a way to close out one possession games, the Knights will be a force to be reckoned with in 2022 and beyond.