By Ray Hamill — Three weeks after their historic bowl game victory, the Corsairs are succeeding off the field of play and continuing to set a high standard for College of the Redwoods football.

On Thursday afternoon, three CR sophomores signed letters of intent to continue their careers at the next level after receiving scholarship offers to play for four-year programs.

And all three played for H-DNL schools before joining the Corsairs.

Linebacker Chase Steubing is taking this game to Division-II New Mexico Highlands, cornerback Lane Branstetter will play for Division-II Colorado Mesa, and offensive lineman Joey Quen will play for Mount Marty, an NAIA school in South Dakota.

All three players played for CR for two years and each played a key role in helping to re-establish Corsairs football, including a first bowl game victory in 30 years earlier this month.

All three will also be missed.

“Their hard work has paid off the (last two and a half years),” CR head coach Jason White told the gathering of friends and family. “I’m real proud of these gentlemen … I appreciate all the work they’ve put in.”

Steubing originally played for White at Eureka High School before moving out of the area for his senior season of high school.

But he returned to Humboldt County before the 2022 season and when he called White to tell him he wanted to play for CR, the coach said it was like an early Christmas present.

“I’m glad I got to coach him again,” White said of Steubing, who used to work out with the Eureka Loggers while he was still in middle school. “That’s been a high point for me.”

Steubing received multiple offers to continue his career at a four-year program, but said he felt New Mexico Highlands was the right fit.

“When the right school texts you back and wants you, that’s when you know,” he said, adding that New Mexico Highlands is “a great environment.”

Steubing will play linebacker for the Cowboys, who play in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, although the coaches have told him he may play inside or outside linebacker.

Branstetter graduated Ferndale High and made the switch from linebacker to cornerback at the collegiate level.

The former Wildcat enjoyed a breakout season as a sophomore and got better and better as the year went on, finishing with a conference-leading six interceptions on his way to an all-conference selection.

“Lane didn’t even play corner (in high school) and that just shows you how far he’s come,” White said. “He was an outside linebacker in high school and now he’s getting Division-II scholarship, thats an incredible feat.”

Branstetter went on an official visit to Colorado Mesa last week and was immediately sold on the school and the program.

“We saw the whole campus and we really loved it,” he said. “It’s a big school with a lot of students and a lot of activity.”

Quen was a two-sport athlete with the Corsairs, also playing baseball, and was an ever-present at right tackle for the past two seasons.

“Joey and I have been through a lot. He’s the only guy to start all 22 games on offense the last two years,” White said of the unit’s only returning starter this year, adding that he was “A cornerstone of our offense.”

Quen also is excited about the move to Yankton, South Dakota.

“It’s a small town,” the former Fortuna Husky said, before adding with a chuckle, “it’s a lot like Fortuna, but a lot colder.”

Quen is expected to earn a starting spot for next season, but he knows nothing is guaranteed.

“They expect me to start right away, but of course I have to earn my spot,” he said.

All three players said they will miss their time at CR.

“You don’t really remember the scores of each individual game, you mostly remember the players and the really good relationships you had with those players,” Steubing said.

Quen echoed the sentiment and says he will miss the entire athletic department.

“It’s truly a small school and the athletic department is amazing cos like you know you go in the training room and you see in that small room it feels like a hundred people in there all the time and everyone gets along,” he said. “And it’s just a great environment, not just football, not just basketball, every single athletic departments get along great.”

“It’s been great,” Branstetter said. “I think these two years have been the best years of football for me.”