Submitted photo – Cruz Montana in action for the Pioneers.

By Ray Hamill — Three former H-DNL quarterbacks are steadily improving on the college fields, while several other North Coast players are also enjoying big seasons.

Eureka’s Cruz Montana, Del Norte’s OJ Calleja and St. Bernard’s Jack Rice have each impressed for their respective teams in recent weeks, and all three appear to be growing stronger as the season progresses.

At Lewis & Clark, Montana has thrown for a touchdown in all three starts for the Division-III Pioneers (1-2) and completed 15 of 25 passes for 207 yards and a TD in a 35-17 loss to Whitworth last weekend.

For the season, Montana has completed 50 percent of his passes for 543 yards, three TDs and two picks, but he has been sacked 12 times, including six times in last week’s loss.

The Pioneers host Pacific Lutheran on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Calleja, meanwhile, is coming off his best performance of the season in a 31-7 win over West Hills.

The 2020 Del Norte graduate threw for two TDs and ran in for two more, as the Eagles got their first win of the year and ended a four-game losing streak.

Calleja completed 13 of 19 passes for 193 yards, while also rushing for 83 yards on 18 carries.

Siskiyous will try to make it two straight wins at Sierra on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Rice, meanwhile, has been splitting time under center for the College of Idaho Yotes but has been the team’s most productive QB.

He has seen time in all five games for the NAIA team, which is 3-2, completing 53 of 109 passes for 667 yards, six TDs and four picks.

He is also the team’s second most productive rusher, with an additional 154 yards and another TD.

Rice’s accuracy has improved as the season has progressed and he has not thrown an interception in his last three games, after throwing four in the first two.

The Yotes play Montana Tech on Saturday at 1 p.m.

It’s not just the local quarterbacks who have been impressing, however.

At Clarke University in Iowa, former Eureka and College of the Redwoods standout Kenny Spaight also continues to enjoy a big season despite his team’s 0-6 record.

The junior defensive back leads the Pride in tackles (34) and interceptions (three) and has been his team’s most productive kick returner, on both punts and kickoffs.

Spaight and the Pride will look for their first win of the season at Peru State in Nebraska on Saturday at noon.

Also impressing on the defensive side of the ball is Del Norte’s Anthony Slayton, who has been a force at linebacker for Shasta College.

The 2020 Warriors graduate and former Big 5 MVP leads his team in tackles (26) and tackles for a loss (7.5) and is coming off a huge performance in a 30-17 win over Chabot a week ago, finishing with a team-best 12 tackles, a 13-yard sack and two-and-a-half tackles for a loss.

Former Eureka Logger Josiah Graham also is coming off a productive day at receiver for the Knights, with a pair of catches for 41 yards.

Shasta, which is 2-1 and the No. 24 JC team in California, will play at West Hills on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Elsewhere, a pair of former Eureka Loggers will be reunited on opposite sides of the field next weekend, when Butte College plays at Santa Rosa JC on Oct 16.

Tyce Mullins (Butte) and Trevor Bell (SRJC) have both seen just limited action for their respective teams this season.

Mullins and the Roadrunners (2-3) are coming off three straight losses and ranked No. 10 in the state, while the Bear Cubs are 0-5.

St. Bernard’s Lane Thrap and Micah Fontenot are both also playing at receiver for Santa Rosa.

Fontenot is third on the team with 139 yards receiving on 12 catches.

Saturday’s game is set for 5 p.m.

At McPherson College in Kansas, meanwhile, former McKinleyville standout James Soloman is fifth on his team with 22 tackles on the defensive line.

The NAIA team is 2-2 and plays at Friends University at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Former Eureka Loggers Isaak Gutierrez will also be in action on Saturday, as the New Mexico Lobos (2-3) try to end a three-game losing streak when they travel to play San Diego State in a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Gutierrez is the team’s starting right guard.