OC Sports Zone Kickoff 2019: With more experience, Crean Lutheran looks for success

Among the players leading Crean Lutheran are (from left) Connor Grace, Ryan Williams, Graham Wyckoff, Blake Slezak, Grant Olbricht and Matt Mahoney. (Photos courtesy Crean Lutheran)

Crean Lutheran’s football team, under second-year coach Randall Reynoso, is going into the season with high hopes as it fields a more experienced squad than last year.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

Six starters on offense and six on defense are back for the Saints. Crean Lutheran was 4-6 overall and 0-5 in its first season in the Empire League last year with a sophomore-laden team.

“We will need continued growth during and throughout the season,” Reynoso said. “This team will not be a finished product until four or five weeks into the season. Our junior players with experience need to step up and perform.

“Same as our 2018 campaign, we will be able to manage the preseason. Empire League play will be tough again this year as it is a very balanced league from top to bottom. If we stay healthy, we will make some noise. It all depends on the development of the offensive and defensive linemen.

“The Saints enter the 2019 season with much promise and many new additions. Of the five new Saints that have arrived through transfer, three will be eligible immediately to help out in the preseason.”

Crean Lutheran opens the season Friday, Aug. 23 with a home game against Maranatha at Portola. The Saints have six home games at Portola, including their Friday, Sept. 20 homecoming game vs. Village Christian.

Tentative offensive starters

Grant Olbricht, QB, senior, 10 of 22 passing for 111 yards and 18 carries for 44 yards and two touchdowns; Nolan Folsom, RB, junior, 86 carries for 484 yards and five rushing TDs and five receptions for 51 yards; Isaiah Obana, RB, junior; Matt Mahoney, WR, junior, two receptions for 14 yards; Evan Olbricht, WR, junior; Joseph Friske, WR, junior; Sammy McMillan, OL, junior; Ryan Williams, OL, senior; Sam Held, OL, junior; Graham Wyckoff, OL, junior;  Caleb Fluegge, OL, senior.

Tentative defensive starters

OLB Isaiah Obana, junior;   OLB Caleb Fluegge, senior, six tackles, five assisted tackles and two sacks;   ILB, Graham Wyckoff, junior, 17 tackles, 18 assisted tackles;  ILB,  Sam Held, junior, five tackles, one assisted tackle; DT,  Ryan Williams, senior, 16 tackles, 12 assisted tackles; NG,  Sammy McMillan, junior; DT, Sean Arldt; senior; CB, Nico Taylor, junior;  SS, Paul Baek, junior, 17 assisted tackles; FS, Nolan Folsom, junior, five tackles; CB,  Matt Mahoney, junior.

Special teams

Nolan Folsom and Matt Mahoney

A closer look at the Saints standouts

—Junior Graham Wyckoff doubles up at guard and inside linebacker, according to Reynoso. “He is the leader of the defense and started eight games last year as a sophomore. He has had a great off-season and the coaches expect big things from him.”

— Senior Ryan Williams will play offensive and defensive tackle. “He has slimmed down this year in order to use quickness and leverage against larger opponents,” Reynoso said.

—“Senior Caleb Fluegge will have to play 120 to 150 snaps a game between offense, defense and special teams,” Reynoso said. “He is the hardest worker on the team and will have to step up as an undersized outside linebacker and offensive tackle.”

— “The bulk of the offense will go through junior running back Nolan Folsom,” Reynoso said. “He is a natural ball carrier and can catch the ball out of the backfield.”

—“Senior quarterback Grant Olbricht has three varsity starts under his belt,” Reynoso said. “He has become a leader and great teammate this summer and is being pushed by sophomore transfer quarterback Brody Jones. The quarterback position has been a great battle this summer.”

—“The emergence of junior wide receiver and cornerback Matt Mahoney has been the biggest impact on the team,” Reynoso said. “Matt started eight games last year at corner and was still learning the game against some tough competition. This year, he has become the primary target in the pass offense and has used his size and speed to become a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks at corner. He will be a major factor in all three phases of the game for the Saints this year.”  

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com

2019 CREAN LUTHERAN SCHEDULE