The 2023 Piedmont High School boys football team put together a great season, going 7-4, winning the Shoreline Division of the West Alameda County Conference and making the North Coast Section playoffs for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, with a core group of seniors, the Highlanders are looking to build on that success.
“This is that group’s senior year,” coach Jordan Seiden said. “This is a group we’ve been waiting (on) for a long time. Pretty optimistic for the year.”
That group is led by quarterback Markos Lagios. At 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, Lagios has been the starter since the finale his freshman year.
“He’s a do-it-all kid who can do it from the pocket or get out on the perimeter,” Seiden said. “He’s a hell of a leader, leads by example. His overall strength is incredible which leads to him being able to have a really strong arm.”
Sam Shelby is the most electric senior. He’s 6-0, 175. He can line up all over the field, including as a running back, wide receiver, defensive back, and kick returner.
“Just finding different ways to get him the ball in space with blockers in front,” Seiden said of the team’s plans for Shelby. “Just trying different ways to get him out with the ball in his hands. Run or pass or screen.”
Tommy Ashton (6-2, 220) is the lead running back and middle linebacker. He has a tough, physical running style.
“He’s the heart and soul of the running game and our offense,” Seiden said. “He’s a bruiser, he’s a load to carry, a load to tackle. A ton of his yards are going to be yards after contact.”
Cash Elmquist is a 6-2, 220 tight end and middle linebacker.
“He’s our big body Swiss army knife,” Seiden said. “We can put him anywhere.”
Jordan Alemania is the top lineman at 6-0, 245. He plays both ways but is a force on defense.
“One of the top defensive linemen in the Bay Area this year,” Seiden said. “He’s the one that makes our trenches go on both sides. Again, a kid who has aspirations to play after high school. He has put in a lot of work to get his body right and be healthy and looking forward to a strong year.”
Linemen Nick King and Liam Leahy are also senior starters.
New to the squad is junior Xavier Henderson, a 5-10, 175 transfer from Oakland Tech. He’ll play running back and linebacker.
“He can play multiple spots on our offense and defense,” Seiden said. “Very athletic, very intelligent, a lot of experience playing football.”
Seiden said the roster will come in around 25 on varsity. Small rosters have been a problem for Piedmont in the past, with the 2022 varsity season being cut short due to injuries.
“We were marveling (this past offseason) there would be 40 kids working out,” Seiden said. “Last year, we’d have 12 kids working out. To have what we have now, it’s amazing.”
The Highlanders moved up to the Mission Division this year and will have to contend with larger schools than the ones they played last year: Hayward, Irvington, Kennedy-Fremont, Newark Memorial and Washington-Fremont. Seiden didn’t want to talk expectations.
“I really try to keep it simple,” he said. “Come out, work hard every day, you’ll improve and ultimately do your job. Everything will fall in place.”
But he admitted that with his strong core of returning seniors, Piedmont could be good.
“All things being equal, if we’re healthy, I don’t see how we don’t,” he said. “We’re not sneaking up on anybody anymore.”
The opener will be August 30 at home against Salesian on the renovated Witter Field.
“They have a lineman going to San Diego State, they have a rich history of athletes coming through their program over the years,” Seiden said. “It’s going to be a big test for us.”