Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Trenten Hagler in action for the Crusaders last season.

By Ray Hamill — The Hoopa Warriors will have to account for a pair of quarterbacks this week, as they get set to kick off the new high school football season against St. Bernard’s on Thursday night.

Most of the H-DNL teams took part in a preseason scrimmage at St. Bernard’s on Saturday and an impressive display by both Crusaders quarterbacks — junior Luke Brunton and sophomore Trenten Hagler — means both players will split time under center at Hoopa.

“They’ve battled all summer,” SB head coach Matt Tomlin said of the impressive duo, who also split time at the position all of last season. “And they’re still even right now.”

Tomlin and new St. Bernard’s quarterback coach Jack Rice both agreed after the scrimmage that there is little if anything to separate the two going into Thursday’s big opener.

And that’s not all that impressed the coaches after the scrimmage, although there also are some big holes to fill from last season.

“We played a lot better than expected,” Tomlin said of the team. “I was pleasantly surprised with how our defense played. We’ve returned a lot of skill position players.

“The big question for us is our offensive line.”

Tomlin will have just one returning starter on the offensive line — sophomore center Josh Tinkham — and will need to replace the majority of the unit as the Crusaders look to repeat as Big 4 champs after sharing the title with Fortuna and Del Norte last year.

The Crusaders, however, have plenty of talent and tone setters on their varsity roster of 24 players.

The multi-talented Tyler Hinrichs is back after being named all-league in 2023 and the junior standout is expected to contribute at multiple positions, including wide receiver and middle linebacker.

Hinrichs is also one of the most reliable kickers in the H-DNL, but he will be expected to contribute in other ways too.

Junior Tyler Hinrichs is expected to play a key role at three different positions for the Crusaders in 2024.

“Tyler Hinrichs is someone who brings a tremendous amount of leadership,” Tomlin said.

Sophomore Garrett Shanahan also is back from last year’s team and will be expected to continue to establish himself at both receiver and free safety after having an immediate impact during his freshman campaign in 2023.

“He’s a very mature young man,” Tomlin said. 

Tomlin and the Crusaders will also get a boost from the return of senior Kieran Flynn, who missed all of last season through injury.

Tomlin describes the standout lineman as a “good leader” and someone who will anchor the offensive line along with Tinkham.

One of the biggest concerns for the Crusaders this fall will be replacing the 2023 Humboldt Sports Football Player of the Year, Wyatt Simoni, who was a force on both sides of the ball during his senior campaign and was also named Big 4 Offensive MVP by the conference coaches.

However, senior Luis Malko-Allen appears ready to help fill those sizable shoes at running back and on defense and had a good scrimmage, according to Tomlin.

As for Hoopa, Tomlin says he is expecting a battle, especially with two St. Bernard’s starters — seniors Kris Tinkham (WR/DB) and TC Rinker (LB/OL) — out injured.

“Hoopa was outstanding this summer,” Tomlin said. “We saw them a lot during passing league. They’re very athletic and Allen Kane is one of the best quarterbacks in the H-DNL.

“I think it’s going to be a battle.”

Tomlin also will have to account for talented receiver Brandon Romero, who he described as “one of the best receivers we faced this summer.”

“He’s a playmaker,” the SB coach added.

Thursday’s game is set for 7:30 p.m. with the schools’ JV teams getting the action started at 5 p.m.