Crean Lutheran football squad prepares to battle in challenging Epsilon League

Crean Lutheran players led by Coach Rick Curtis charge out onto the field for a game last season. (Photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Crean Lutheran High School’s football team is looking to build on its success from the past two seasons as it prepares for its first year in the new Epsilon League.

“The Epsilon League will be a big challenge for the Saints as every team in the league advanced to the CIF playoffs in 2023,” said Coach Rick Curtis. “Each team (La Habra, Huntington Beach, Laguna Hills, Foothill and El Dorado) have solid football programs and outstanding coaching staffs.”

Crean Lutheran reached the quarterfinal round of the CIF playoffs in 2022 and 2023. The Saints were 8-4 overall and finished third with a 3-2 record in the final season of the Empire League last year.

Curtis is looking to continue that success. The squad will be led by an experienced defensive unit.

“The Saints enter the 2024 season with hopes and aspirations of reaching new heights after their CIF quarterfinal playoff berths in 2022 and 2023,” Curtis said. “With 10 returning starters on defense led by Ben Byszewski (All-CIF and All-Orange County), Carter Jones (CIF defensive player of the year) and Tyler Parker (All-CIF) the Saints look to be strong on defense for the 2024 campaign.”

Anthony Jones and Daniel McEachern round out the returners on the defensive line with Parker, while Mason McCullough and Taurian Nash join Jones for a solid linebacking corps, Curtis said.

Returning starters, Javari Nash, Robert Smith and Troy Hill join Byszewski in the secondary.

Newcomer Ryder Barnes and junior Jack Schirrmacher are looking to break into the lineup at the defensive end position. John Byszewski returns for his fourth season as the defensive coordinator.

Sophomore Caden Jones, who started the last three games last season, will be the starting quarterback. Three-year starter and first team all-league player Kyler Petronis leads the offensive line.

“Grant Culbertson (center), and Tyler Garcia (tackle) are the other returners on the offensive line which has been bolstered by the transfer of sophomore Heinrik Shriver, from St. John Bosco,” Curtis said.

Curtis said the Saints will utilize “running back by committee” this season with two-year starter Eli Bray, Taurian Nash, and Archer C’ de Baca, who has excellent speed, leading the way.

Byszewski, Smith, and transfers Dillon Booth (Paraclete) and Drew Deese (Kennedy) lead the
receiving corps, Curtis said.

“Junior Taiga Takada and sophomore Noah Richardson, look to see quality playing time in Russ Oka’s (offensive coordinator) spread offense,” the Saints coach said. “The special teams are led by three-year starter, All-Orange County and the Empire League special teams’ player of the year Connor Stephens, who will handle all of the kicking duties.”

Crean Lutheran will be making its first out of state trip in school history when it travels to Denver, Colo. to take on Mullen High School during week zero.

Curtis said that Mullen is a “strong Catholic school program that has a great tradition in the Denver area. We look for this to be a great team bonding experience as we head into a tough pre-season schedule that includes Mullen, St. Pius X (Downey), Liberty (Winchester), San Juan Hills, and La Serna (Whittier).”

Crean Lutheran will once again play home games on its campus field.

2024 SCHEDULE

Friday, Aug. 23, at Mullen, Colo.

Friday, Aug. 30, at St. Pius X

Friday, Sept. 6, (H) Liberty (Winchester)

Friday, Sept. 13 (H), San Juan Hills

Friday, Sept. 20, vs. La Serna at California HS

League

Friday, Oct. 4, (H), vs. Foothill

Friday, Oct. 11, (H), vs. El Dorado

Friday, Oct. 18, at La Habra

Friday, Oct. 25, at Huntington Beach

Friday, Nov. 1, (H), vs. Laguna Hills

(Eleventh in a series of summer high school football previews).