By ALEXANDER SIMONE

Staff writer

After going 1-8 in 2017, coach Devin Metzinger is entering his third year confident in his team and his game plan.

“We feel pretty good,” he said. “We have a number of guys who are in their third year with me, so they know the ins and outs of our system and what’s expected of them.”

With 10 upperclassmen, the team knows when to step up, Metzinger said.

“It helps out a lot,” he said. “When they’re able to step in and be a player-coach to the younger guys, it’s a big benefit to us.”

The team’s chemistry is greatly improved because of the number of older players and how many sports they play together during the year, he said.

“Being a small school, you have the same kids who are out for all sports,” he said. “They get that chemistry, not just through football, but through other sports as well.”

Working at a quick tempo is the primary way the Trojans ready themselves for game speed.

“We feel like if we can have a high tempo practice and get some condition in during practice, it puts us in better situations on Friday night,” Metzinger said. “So we do as many reps and go as fast as we can in practice.”

It’s important for Hillsboro to stay focused on each matchup as it approaches and not get distracted the season as a whole, he said.

“We try not to look at the full season, but week to week getting better,” he said. “And those last three games at the end of the year are district games, so being able to play our best games at that time.”