Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The Crusaders in action at last weekend’s preseason league jamboree.

By Ray Hamill — A new-look Crusaders team will kick off the new high school football season this weekend, but with a defensive line that appears poised to dominate the trenches this fall that transition should be a little bit easier.

Longtime head coach Matt Tomlin is back, but this year he has handed over the offensive play calling to new coordinator Jack Rice.

According to Tomlin, the offense is still coming together and is enduring some growing pains, but the team defense looks solid, especially up front.

“That group has stood out among every other position group (during the preseason),” Tomlin said of the defensive line. “The defensive line has led us in preseason and just plays hard every snap.”

The starting unit includes returning seniors Jahseree Bailey and Kohlton Hall at edge, along with juniors Josh Tinkham and Teqkauri Achane in the interior.

Bailey is a returning all-conference selection, while Tinkham has been the Crusaders’ most impressive player through the preseason and will also play center.

“The best player on our team is Josh Tinkham,” Tomlin said of the junior, who first broke into the team as a freshman before establishing himself as a key player in a breakout sophomore campaign last fall. “He’s very strong and athletic and the sky’s the limit for that kid. He has a chance to play some high-level football.”

This year’s St. Bernard’s team also features what looks like an outstanding freshman class, one that Tomlin describes as possibly the best he’s ever seen in his time with the program.

A pair of first-year players will start on defense, Maddox Boham at strong safety and Miles Sirrine at linebacker.

The latter will lineup alongside his older brother, junior Robert Sirrine, and both players look set for a big fall.

“They just showed up at camp and they like to hit,” Tomlin said of the siblings.

But while the defense looks good right now, the new-look offense is still finding its feet under Rice, who memorably led the Crusaders to a first state title in 2015.

The adjustment hasn’t been helped by the fact that senior quarterback Luke Brunton and senior all-league receiver Michael Manzi have both opted not to play this fall.

Junior Trenten Hagler, who split time with Brunton in each of the past two seasons, will start under center and brings a lot of experience to the position.

Hagler beat out junior Garrett Shanahan for the starting job, although Tomlin says it was a very close battle and that Shanahan could see time at QB.

However, it was Shanahan’s ability at receiver that sealed the deal.

“Both players did a good job, but we preferred to have Garrett at receiver and Trenten at quarterback,” Tomlin said.

Shanahan, who is a three-sport star for the Crusaders, looks ready for a huge junior year and is stepping up as a team leader, along with senior Tyler Hinrichs, the latter of whom could be the best kicker in the North Coast Section and will also play receiver and linebacker.

“Garrett Shanahan is the leader of this football team no matter what position he plays,” the coach added. “Him and Tyler Hinrichs are tremendous leaders. They lead by example by how hard they play and they’re great teammates.”

Newcomer Braylon Johnson, who transferred in from Fortuna, is also expected to play a key role this fall after clearing transfer protocols and could see time at quarterback as well.

“We’ve got three quarterbacks that are out there competing,” Tomlin said.

The longtime coach was impressed with a lot of what he saw from his team at last weekend’s preseason league jamboree and believes the offense will continue to grow.

Under Rice, the Crusaders will continue to run a similar style spread offense, with the same principles but new terminology.

“They’re getting there,” Tomlin said. “I’m seeing progress every day.”

Another player who is helping to make the transition easier is starting ruining back Riley Nantz.

“He’s had a great fall camp,” Tomlin said of the returning senior who will also play outside linebacker.

Saturday’s varsity game is set for 2 p.m, with the JVs getting the day’s action under way at 11:30 a.m.