Cal Lutheran football team will count on experience, depth in 2024
The Cal Lutheran University football team has a little extra experience this season.
Fifth-year seniors will anchor the Kingsmen at several key spots.
Former Calabasas High star Jaden Casey has returned home to take over as the starting quarterback.
The Westlake Village native, who previously played at UC Berkeley and Portland State, threw 9,008 yards and 101 touchdowns at Calabasas. He was the 2019 Marmonte League co-MVP.
“I’m excited for Jaden,” CLU head coach Anthony Lugo said. “He’s done a great job this summer being a leader and taking charge of the offense since he stepped in on Day 1.”
CLU also returns perhaps its two best defensive players from a year ago, defensive end Jackson White and cornerback John Moore. Both are also fifth-year seniors.
White led the team in both sacks (6.0) and tackles for a loss (8.5). He was also fourth in tackles with 40.
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“The entire defensive line comes back,” Lugo said, “highlighted by Jackson White coming back for a fifth year.”
Moore, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound Royal High graduate, led the team with two interceptions last year.
“Being able to bring back John Moore (is exciting),” Lugo said. “He’s a lock-down corner for us.”
CLU, which was 3-7 a year ago, will open the season Saturday afternoon against Central College of Iowa.
“We’re super excited with this year’s team,” Lugo said. “Obviously, the SCIAC is always a battle, year in and year out.”
Central received votes in the national preseason d3football.com poll.
“This first opponent is a (potential) top 20 team,” Lugo said. “We expect them to come in and play hard. And they’ve got some big boys.”
Lugo is also excited about his big boys on either side of the ball. Both lines should be improved.
“I love what we have up front,” Lugo said.
The starting offensive line of Jordan Ortiz, Jamil Charles, Gavin Quiroz, Gabe Anguiano and Caleb Alalem averages 6-foot-1, 290 pounds.
“Offensively, we’re probably the biggest we’ve ever been,” Lugo said.
Defensive end Devon Goosby gives CLU an All-SCIAC bookend on the defensive line. Six-foot-2, 270-pound junior Hunter Hall, a Camarillo High graduate, and sophomore Max Juarez will start inside.
“Those are two young guys who have played and started almost every game that they’ve been here,” Lugo said.
Offensively, Casey will inherit a skill position group that returns last year’s leading rusher and receiver.
Cade Cadam, who led the team with 58 catches for 712 yards and five TDs last season, returns to lead the receiving group, as does starting tight end Anthony Valencia.
“We’re looking to feature (Valencia),” Lugo said. “He really came on last year and he’s a had a great camp.”
Running back Dylan Turner led the team with 257 yards and three TDs on 69 carries. He’ll be joined in the backfield by CJ Zackery and JD Sumlin.
“We have a stable right now,” Lugo said.
CLU will open the season with 140 players on the roster. The depth should help the Kingsmen, who started 3-2 last season before finishing the year with a four-game losing streak.
“We got a little banged up towards the end of the season,” Lugo said. “This year, bringing all those guys back, I’m super excited.”
CLU remains in the “Surf” side of the SCIAC with Chapman and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Defending champion Pomona-Pitzer, La Verne, and Redlands are in the “Sun” pod.
Teams play each team in their pod home and away. The winners of the two pods play in the SCIAC championship game on Nov. 16.
“Playing those schools twice, we have to make sure we’re healthy,” Lugo said. “Every game matters in the SCIAC.”
Joe Curley covers high school, collegiate and professional football for The Star. He can be reached at [email protected]. For more coverage, follow @vcsjoecurley on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads, Facebook and TikTok.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Cal Lutheran football team will count on experience, depth in 2024
