Several generations of Valley families have seen their sons play on the Mount Si High School grid on autumn Friday evenings. For one family, the Castagnos, Friday nights will take on a special meaning this fall as their boy takes the field for his senior season.

Rossco Castagno is the third generation of his family to suit up and play for the Wildcats. Rossco is a senior and is expected to be the key player for Mount Si.

His father Bill and grandfather Gary played for the ‘Cats in their day. Gary took the field as a quarterback for the scarlet and gray during the mid-1950s, shortly after the school was opened, and Bill wore the Mount Si uniform during the late 1970s, during a period which saw a significant coaching transition from Pat Alexander to John LaLanne.

“I started on both sides of the ball; played a lot of quarterback,” Bill said. “We didn’t have a strong line, so it was more running quarterback than passing.”

Back then, the competition to play was fierce.

“Friday night was lot of anxiety and a lot of excitement before you ran out on the field,” Bill said. “It was a big show.

“Back in those days, you worked hard all week long, and you didn’t know if you were suiting or starting until the night after Thursday practice, it was posted. So you worked your butt off to try and see if you got a shot at the next Friday night.”

Talk around the kitchen table is pretty interesting when Rossco asks about the past.

“I would ask them how the other team is and I’ll get a story about ‘oh when I was playing this guy was doing this,’ just stuff like that,” he said.

Having families stay involved in the program like this is one reason coach Charlie Kinnune is still coaching Mount Si, and now is the dean of coaches in Kingco 3A with this being his 18th season.

“That’s why I’m here. This is my 18th year at Mount Si High School because of this special feeling, this family feeling,” Kinune said. “There’s been plenty of opportunities to go elsewhere the last 18 years. That hometown feel, that family feel, that community feel is hard to come by.”

Rossco looks to provide strong leadership and a strong work ethic this season.

“When I was a freshman, I watched the Brandon Yakaboski, Ian Atkinson group,” he said. “They succeeded really well. I got to the weight room and they’d all be there. They’re all in it together, not having problems with each other, all being good teammates and I saw that. That worked for them, so I kind of try to follow that a little bit.”

The Castagno family has been active in the local trucking industry for many years. Their support of local youth has been evident just as long.

“It’s been real important that we stay within the community and give back to the community,” Bill said.