Written by: Marlowe Hereford
Hillcrest makes its return to the 5A classification for the first time since the 2017-18 school year this fall having ended its time in 4A with a run to the state title game.
The Knights carried an undefeated record into last November's 4A state championship game, which ended with a 29-26 loss to Bishop Kelly at Albertsons Stadium in a battle between the top two seeded teams in the 4A playoffs. Hillcrest graduated 32 from that state runner-up team which went undefeated in conference play and finished 12-1 overall, including track star and All-Conference Defensive Player of the Year Braxton Battleson (defensive back), All-Conference Offensive Player of the Year Peyton King (quarterback), First Team All-Conference offensive lineman Cole Maddux and First Team All-Conference running back/middle linebacker Trason Keller.
However, the cupboard is far from bare as Hillcrest returns senior wide receiver Jace Jeudy, who had 125 yards and a touchdown in last season's 4A state title game, senior offensive lineman and three-year starter Michael McCartney, who head coach Brennon Mossholder said has been offered by College of Idaho and is being recruited by Big Sky Conference schools, senior running back and three-year starter Titan Larsen (also offered by College of Idaho) and senior wide receiver/defensive back Mason Saunders.
Mossholder is also excited about the addition of four particular juniors to his varsity roster: quarterback Tyson Sweetwood, running back/linebacker Daxon Sargent, center Austin Reeves and wide receiver/defensive back Mason Davis.
Sweetwood played in last season's state title game when an injury prompted him to step up and fill in, and Mossholder said he had 'outstanding' freshman and JV seasons.
"He has all the physical tools at 6-foot-4 with a rocket for an arm," Mossholder said.
Sargent and Davis move to varsity after success on Hillcrest's JV team which finished 8-1 last season. Mossholder said he expects Sargent to be impactful on both sides of the ball and Davis, who played 7 on 7 this spring, led JV in catches last season. Reeves is a wrestler whom Mossholder said has 'bulked up to 250 pounds.'
Offensively, the Knights aim to maintain the firepower they brought last season.
"We were second in the state in scoring last year, so we want to continue in that same direction," Mossholder said. "We are a spread team and the goal is to make opponents guard every inch of grass. We should have great balance and a bunch of guys will touch the ball for us."
Defensively, Mossholder described the Knights as fast and athletic. Capitalizing on third downs and creating more turnovers are areas he said Hillcrest wishes to improve on this season.
"Damien Simmons wil start at DE for us and he might be the fastest player we have," Mossholder said. "We will look to play a fast, physical style of defense out of our base 3-4 look."
Another source of excitement is something that finally came to fruition for the football program. For the first time in Hillcrest's 32-year history as a school, the Knights will have their own home football field this fall. Hillcrest and Bonneville previously shared Thunder Stadium, located on Bonneville's campus, for home games.
"I am excited to experience the opening of our brand new, on campus stadium with a bunch of new players at the varsity level," Mossholder said. "We experienced a lot of success last season and we are working hard to sustain that success."
Looking around at the rest of the conference, Mossholder said he anticipates Blackfoot to be a surprise this fall with a new head coach and several returning young players.
Hillcrest begins its season Aug. 30 at Madison before beginning conference play Sept. 6 by hosting Bonneville in the annual Civil War game.