Crean Lutheran football team, led by new Coach Rick Curtis, starts camp during uncertain times

Wide receiver Matthew Mahoney of Crean Lutheran picks up yards in a game last season. (File photo courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs)

Crean Lutheran High School’s new football coach Rick Curtis was looking forward to Monday.

It was the time that Curtis, the former Capo Valley Christian coach, could begin a four-week football camp with his new team with social distancing and many other guidelines in place.

High school sports have been on hold since March because of the coronavirus pandemic, but camps are allowed to begin. The actual starting date of the football season and other fall sports has not been finalized.

“It was great, we had about 60 kids, of course we had to split them up,” said Curtis in a phone interview Tuesday. “It”s a little bit of a challenge and a lot different than we’re used to. We had a little over 20 freshmen and about 40 varsity guys, so we’re excited about the turnout for the first day. We think we will get some more as we go through the summer and into the fall because some are still on vacation and some are still deciding whether to come, so we’re taking it really slow. It was great to be out there and great to see the kids.”

Curtis had met with his new players and their families in person before schools were closed and athletics were shut down. So Monday was the first time he had met with his players since then.

“I knew who they were, I just hadn’t seen them much in action but I’ve watched a lot of film of the kids who played last year, both the freshmen team and the varsity team,” he said. “It’s good to see them out running around and being able to start forming a team and building a culture that we’re planning on building here. So we’re excited about that.”

The sessions focus on conditioning, Curtis said.

“If you look at our return to play protocol, which our administration has done a great job getting us ready, getting the testing. The kids come in and they test before and we take their temperature and ask them questions to make sure no one is sick,” Curtis said. “They have to clear that process first. Our training staff has done a great job of keeping track of everyone and making sure they have their athletic clearance and physicals completed. Just great support here at Crean Lutheran.”

All the players cleared the checks allowing them to participate, Curtis said.

Players were asked to bring face coverings to wear when they are meeting with teammates or coaches.

“Masks are not required when they’re out running around, which is not very healthy for them to wear masks,” Curtis said. “We keep them six feet apart and we’re social distancing. It’s different. It’s kind of coaching from a distance, but it’s just fun to be out there. I’m really excited about their work ethic, their attitude, the effort they have on the field and I’m really excited to coach them.”

Curtis and other coaches in Orange County are facing a challenge like no other this season. They want to try and get their players ready without knowing exactly when the season will begin. Crean Lutheran is scheduled to open the season Friday, Aug. 21 with a home game against Morningside. CIF offficials have said all options are on the table in terms of the start of the football season and other fall sports and they say an update will be provided by Monday, July 20.

“It’s the uncertainty of what’s coming up next week or what’s coming up July 20, what is CIF going to say,” Curtis said. “Are they going to push the season back, how many weeks? We just don’t know what’s going to happen. We’re training for the season but when does the season start? We’re all kind of in the same boat. It (the coronavirus) does kind of dictate our lives right now.”

Curtis had a message for his players Monday.

“We got into the goals because we did have meetings prior to us leaving so they know and we’ve gone through that in our zoom meetings,” Curtis said. “The number one thing for us is we have to build our character first and then build on that process. Our process kind of drives what our result is going to be. It’s great to set these lofty goals, but the processs is what we’re geared towards and the core values we establish to make sure we’re on task with the mission of the school and the vision the school has and that we follow that mission and the vision and our core values are in line with that. We’re building our culture and we’re building our character.”

The Saints will return some talented players including junior quarterback Brody Jones.

“Brody Jones is really good, he has some things we have to work on, he’s only going to be a junior,” Curtis said. “But he’s been working really hard in the off season. We’re just now installing our system, Russell Oka, our offensive coordinator and Kurt Westling are working really hard with him and our sophomore quarterback Gavin Rogers is an excellent quarterback so it’s going to be good competition for both of those guys pushing each other and it’s going to make them better. So we feel really good about the quarterback position, with a junior coming up and a sophomore coming up.

“We have some skilled kids, really impressed with the skill positions we have and some linemen coming back from last year that need to continue to work and develop and get bigger and stronger and get ready to compete in league.”

Senior center Sammy McMillan, senior lineman Caeden Chase (a transfer from San Juan Hills) and offensive lineman/linebacker Graham Wyckoff are other players that Curtis is looking to.

Sophmore tackle Cristian Viola, an offensive tackle and defensive end, is also expected to contribute.

The Saints camp will continue five days a week for four weeks and players will also do some work in the weight room.

“We’ve been off for 18 weeks, so it’s not like they need more time off,” Curtis said. “I don’t think the kids are looking for more time off and we’re going to going to start hitting the weight room.”

Under safety guidelines, only 10 players can go into the weight room at a time.

“That’s probably the most restrictive area we have,” Curtis said. “That’s one area where we’re working to be creative and getting them in and out of there and stagger them and get going in the weight room.”

Curtis replaces Randall Reynoso, who resigned to take the head coaching job at El Toro after two seasons at Crean Lutheran.

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