Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – CR quarterback Bryton Livingston

By Ray Hamill — It was never going to be easy following in the footsteps of one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in College of the Redwoods history, but Bryton Livingston is making it look easy.

The new Corsairs QB has gotten his CR career off to a flying start with two strong performances in his first two games.

The Eagle Point, Ore., native even tied a program record with five touchdown passes in Saturday’s 63-18 win over Hartnell at the Redwood Bowl, while also rushing for a TD.

And through two games with his new team, Livingston is tied for second in the state with six TD passes.

It’s still very early in his career, but after helping to lead the Corsairs to a pair of impressive wins this month, there’s every reason to believe Livingston has a bright future with the team.

The newcomer beat out five other quarterbacks in camp to replace program record-setter Max Hough, who moved on to play at Colorado Mesa after two very successful years with the team.

Hough, a Fortuna High graduate, certainly left his mark on program history and set new school records for most career touchdown passes (40), most career passing yards (4,008) and most career pass completions (291).

Livingston has been getting plenty of help from a talented and deep group of CR skill position players, as well as an offensive line that has yet to give up a sack and one that is giving him plenty of time to pass the ball.

“He had a very good day,” CR head coach Jason White said of Livingston after Saturdays’ win. “He was very efficient. I was impressed with his pocket presence. And it obviously helps when your offensive line hasn’t given up a sack in two games.”

Livingston is not the only CR player to have impressed early in the new season.

Freshman running back Isaia Hemmings from Salt Lake City leads the American-Pacific 7 Conference with 91.5 yards rushing a game through his first two games.

On the defensive side of the ball, former Del Norte Warrior Conner Long also is enjoying an outstanding start to his CR career.

The 2020 Del Norte graduate has been a force on the defensive line and is tied for the conference lead with three sacks.

He also is third in tackles per game with nine.

As a team, the Corsairs have the fourth highest scoring offense in the state with 48 points a game, trailing only Monterey Peninsula (58), Pasadena (51) and Allan Hancock (49).

The CR defense also features among the state leaders and is sixth in points allowed with 12.5 points a game.

The Corsairs will be tested this weekend when they travel to play Monterey Peninsula, the highest scoring JC team in California through the early season.