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Coach Anthony Lugo is looking for a bounce-back year for Kingsmen football in 2023 after a series of close losses led to a 3-7 record in 2022, and he's counting on some veteran leadership to put the program back on the rise.
Coach Lugo welcomed 120 players, including approximately 70 letter winners, to fall camp, and praised his veterans for their hard work over the summer to get ready for the season. "We're really pleased with our senior leadership," he said, which showed itself in a newly introduced buddy system pairing up veterans with younger players, especially newcomers to the CLU program. The spirit of camaraderie was enhanced by having all the players bunk together in Mount Clef dorm for the first two weeks of camp.
One of the Kingsmen strengths in 2023 appears to be in the receiving corps, led by all-SCIAC second team tight end Jaden Cline, a 6-1, 220-pound senior who caught 27 passes for 280 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 2022. He's joined by senior slot back Julio Angel (6-0, 180), who caught 34 passes for 434 yards and four scores last year while earning academic all-district honors . Other key returnees are two other seniors, Connor Matzke (6–3, 200), who caught 14 throws for142 last year, and Tyson Lundring (5-10, 175), who caught nine balls for 137 yards and a score.
As to who will be throwing to them this fall, that job appears to be a battle between two other seniors: JP Andrade (6-3, 215), who transferred in from Jackson State after spending three years at Ohio State after leading the state in passing in 2018 at Bonita High under the coaching of Kingsmen alum Steve Bogan, and James McNamara (6-1, 200),who completed two passes, one for a touchdown, last fall.
Running the ball appears to fall to senior Dante Coxsom (5-8, 160) and sophomore Dylan Turner (5-9, 175).
The offensive line is led by two other veteran seniors, tackle Tanner Bradley (5-11, 285) and guard Max Thorne (6-2, 285). They're joined by a trio of sophomores: center Gavin Quiroz (6-0, 285), guard Caleb Alalem (6-0, 280) and tackle Gabriel Anguiano (6-2, 310).
On defense, the line in CLU's 4-2-5 defense is led by seniors, tackle Jackson White (6-3, 240), who also serves as the team's long snapper, and end Shaihi Baker (6-3, 240). They are joined by two sophomores, nose guard Hunter Hall (6-1, 295) and Devon Goosby (6-1, 235).
The inside linebackers are also sophomores, Arturo Orta (6-2, 225) and Jordan Gonzalez (6-0, 205).
Junior John Moore (6-2, 210) returns at cornerback after missing 2022 with an injury. He's joined by senior Sam Aseh (5-11, 195). Safety duties are handled by seniors Adam Herrera (6-0, 195) and Nlolan Jackson (6-0, 205) and sophomore Diego Herrera (6-0, 195).
Special teams are handled by two young veterans. Junior placekicker Daniel Burgos (6-0, 220) converted 26 of 28 PATs last year and five of eight field goal tries for a team-leading 41 points and outed 17 times for a 35.4 p-yard average. Sophomore Kyle Howie (6-0, 175) pruned 23 times for a 42.4-yard average.
Kick return duties fall to senior Desmond Thomps on (5-7, 170) and junior Cade Cadam (6-1, 185), who is also a member of the receiving corps.
By Gerry Price
Board Member and Sportswriter |
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