PREP FOOTBALL ’99 : CENTURY LEAGUE : At Foothill, He Is the People’s Champion : If the Knights hope to make a run at the Century League title, the senior running back must have a good year.

Foothill senior running back Skyler Champion does everything quietly.

“We can go through a whole practice and not hear a word out of him,” said Casey Mazzotta, the Knights’ second-year coach. “I’ve talked to him about being more vocal and I’ve wished he’d be the other way. But that’s just not his style.”

Champion’s style is subdued, but his on-field results are hard to ignore.

And if Foothill is to make a run at unseating Century League champion Villa Park this season, Mazzotta said the Knights will need a big year from Champion.

“We don’t have a lot of stars here,” Mazzotta said. “But if you said we had to have a guy, well, then Skyler’s it.”

Champion’s ability has never been in question. At 6 feet, 200 pounds, he already has drawn interest from college recruiters, including Air Force.

Champion had a 1,000-yard rushing season as a sophomore, but a knee injury significantly reduced his playing time last season. However, Foothill won its three regular-season games when Champion saw the most playing time at running back.

“He has great vision and balance,” Mazzotta said. “He always seems to avoid the big hit and he doesn’t get nailed.

“He’s deceptive and people don’t think he’s fast because he has such an easy gait when he runs. He’s more of a glider.”

That’s all pretty good for a guy who’s supposed to be a baseball player.

Champion’s father, Mike, spent three years playing for the San Diego Padres and was their starting second baseman in 1977. Skyler’s younger sister Autumn is a standout on the Foothill softball team.

“I gave up baseball to concentrate on football last year,” Champion said. “I like football more.”

That’s good news for Mazzotta, who is relying heavily upon Champion to lift the Knights toward their championship aspirations.

“For us to have a big year, Skyler needs to go for about 2,000 yards,” Mazzotta said. “And he’s capable of doing that.”

Last season, Champion got off to a good start, rushing for 109 yards and two touchdowns in Foothill’s 35-15 victory over Tustin, then ranked sixth in the county.

But the following week against Woodbridge, the eventual Southern Section Division VI champion, Champion hurt his knee early in the game and didn’t return in the 31-7 loss. Champion would not return to full strength until nearly two months later in Week 9.

“That was the worst feeling knowing you can’t go in and help,” Champion said. “But that made me train that much harder for this season.”

Champion didn’t mind the extra weightlifting and training regimens Mazzotta’s staff put in place during the off-season, something that was missing before the 1998 season when Mazzotta didn’t arrive at Foothill until mid-July.

“We lacked discipline,” Champion said. “Even lifting weights, it wasn’t mandatory, so only 10 or so guys would actually go and do it. Now we know what has to get done.”

Mazzotta said Champion’s injury-marred season has made him a better player.

“He’s worked that much harder,” Mazzotta said, “knowing he has to get into the best shape at the very beginning of the season.”

Like for most teams at the beginning of the season, optimism and championship dreams dance freely at Foothill. Champion knows it will take a lot of hard work from him and his teammates, but he isn’t bashful about their goals.

“We want to win league and hopefully win 14 games and CIF,” Champion said boldly, then his quiet side peeked through. “We just want to surprise everyone.”