Notre Dame Looks to Continue Football Turnaround

A year after finishing 2-8 and missing the football playoffs for the first time in at least 20 years, Notre Dame High is on the comeback trail.

The Knights are 2-0 heading into a nonleague showdown tonight at 7 against visiting Taft (0-1), and both victories have come against quality opponents. After opening with a 35-13 win at defending Western Division champion Serra of Gardena – a team that had won 42 of 44 games over the preceding three seasons – Notre Dame followed with a 17-14 overtime win Friday over visiting Valencia, as the Knights came from 14 points down with seven minutes remaining.

So, Notre Dame has already equaled last year’s win total, and the Knights are eager for more success. They’ll have to be in top form if they eventually want to compete with Serra League powers Alemany, Crespi and Loyola, all of whom are 2-0, as the league has an overall record of 9-1.

Kelly Hilinski, a 6-foot-6 junior quarterback, played a key role in the win over Valencia, passing for 109 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown to Kevin Carrasco with three minutes left to pull Notre Dame within two points, followed by a two-point conversion pass to Sam Robinson to forge a tie; the Knights won in overtime when sophomore Lucas Alfonso kicked a 40-yard field goal, then on the ensuing possession Carrasco caused a Valencia fumble that was recovered by Dominick Mugavero to end the game.

With Notre Dame’s renewed success, there is a whole different vibe this season, Carrasco said.

“It’s just really satisfying because we’re all together a team. The team is really close, and there’s a strong connection among all of us,” Carrasco said. “That’s what allows us to pull together in close games.”

Khalfani Muhammad, a junior running back who last spring finished second in the 100-meter dash at the California state track championships, has also played a key role, rushing for 232 yards and three touchdowns. He is considered the area’s fastest football player.

Muhammad’s key blocker is Austin Crist, a returning All-Serra League selection whose brother, Dayne, is a quarterback at University of Notre Dame.

Taft defeated Notre Dame 38-35 last season, one of four losses that came down to the final moments, so the host Knights owe Taft some payback. This time, Taft is a significant underdog after graduating nearly every key starter, including record-setting quarterback Michael Bercovici (now at Arizona State) and defensive lineman Antwaun Woods (USC).

“We’re definitely looking forward to this game,” Carrasco said. “Last year, it ended on a bad note when Taft made a last-second field goal, so we’re definitely looking for redemption.”

Taft, which advanced to the City Section Division I semifinals last year, opened with a 10-3 loss to Dorsey, so the visiting Toreadors are still looking for their first touchdown under first-year coach Chris Rizzo, who has replaced Matt Kerstetter.

In another game tonight:

Van Nuys (2-0) at Contreras (0-1), 7 p.m. – Iheanyi Obinna, Van Nuys’ top player, won a hardship appeal for a fifth year of eligibility, and the quarterback is taking advantage, completing 17 of 23 passes for 308 yards and six touchdowns without an interception in addition to rushing for 99 yards and three touchdowns for the hot-starting Wolves.

A year ago, Contreras defeated Van Nuys 27-0 in the season opener, so it’s payback time.

“We have to go down there with a sense of urgency and desire to show what we’re all about,” Van Nuys coach Sean Pollard said. “We haven’t forgotten about last year. We’ve had this game circled all offseason.”

Trevor Brathwaite is off to a good start, too. He rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 53-yard touchdown reception last week in a 32-14 win over Verdugo Hills, and overall he has four receptions for 114 yards.