HILMAR -- Zack Giuliano looks like your typical football player.
Standing 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, the Hilmar senior looks like he's spent his share of time in the weight room.
When you see him step on the field it doesn't take long to see he's got that little bit of crazy in him that makes him one of the top linebackers in the area.
"He's got that attitude," Yellowjackets head coach Frank Marques said. "He's got that orneriness to him. He loves the game and does all the extra things you need to do be successful. He is that prototypical football player."
Hilmar (10-2) will need a big game from Giuliano and the defense on Friday night when it hosts Liberty Ranch (9-3) in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 4 semifinals at 7.
The Hawks average more than 44 points per game and are led by running back John Wiernicki, who has 2,232 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns.
"Liberty Ranch uses a ton of formations," Marques said. "They do a lot of crazy stuff. Their running back reminds me a lot of (former Central Catholic running back) Louis Bland. He's the best running back we've seen in a while."
Liberty Ranch runs most of their plays out of a Wing-T and it will move Wiernicki around the field to get him the ball in different spots. However, the Hawks will also use Power-I and spread formations to change it up.
"They've got a big back to worry about and they're a very versatile offense," Giuliano said. "We've got to be ready to adjust quickly because they like to get to the line fast and go."
Giuliano and the Yellowjackets' defense have been up to every challenge this year.
Hilmar has given up just over 11 points per game, including a 27-0 shutout of Livingston last week.
Giuliano may be the leader of the defense with his 126 tackles, but he has plenty of help around him.
Defensive linemen Corey Bayer (9.5 sacks) and Tyler Junker (nine sacks) have combined for 18.5 sacks.
The Silva twins, Tyler and Kyle, flank Giuliano and give the Yellowjackets one of the best set of linebackers Marques has had in his nine seasons.
"We take a lot of pride in our defense," Giuliano said. "We try to shut out the other team. We held Escalon to just 10 points when they're scoring 45 points against everybody else.
"If our offense is struggling, we try to keep our team in the game until they get going."
Giuliano comes from a football family. His brother Austin played on the Yellowjackets' section title team in 2008.
His father, Stephen, can usually be seen pacing during games. He played football in high school in the Bay Area.
Zack's mother, Tracy, was even a cheerleader at Turlock High.
She can be her son's toughest critic.
"She's the one yelling at me if I do something wrong or I fumble the ball," Zack said. "She's a whole different mother when it comes to football."
Zack was a freshman sitting in the stands when his brother and Hilmar defeated Central Catholic at the University of the Pacific for the section title.
He's had to listen to his brother talk about it often.
"Oh yeah, he always brings it up," Zack said. "I want to be able to say the same thing. It gives me chills just thinking back watching them win in 2008. I want to be able to say we won the blue banner, too."
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