By Ray Hamill — If experience counts for anything on the football field, and it usually does, College of the Redwoods should be well prepared for their opening game of the 2026 season.
The Redwoods coaches and players left Eureka on Friday afternoon to begin the new season at San Jose on Saturday, and head coach Jason White is expecting a good test right for his team right out of the starting gates.
But with an experienced roster, especially along the offensive line, CR appears well equipped to face that challenge.
“I feel pretty good about it, as good as I’ve felt for a first game,” White said.
The Redwoods players have enjoyed a productive preseason, something that tends to go hand in hand with an experienced roster.
And it all begins in the trenches, with three returning starters along the offensive line, as well as two others who were with the team in 2025.
Former St. Bernard’s Crusader Kieran Flynn will get the start at right tackle after a medical red-shirt in 2025, alongside right guard Jonathan Mitchell, who was a back-up last season.
Center Cameron Caspino and left guard Kekoa Kahookaulana are also back with the team after starting every game a year ago, as is sophomore left tackle Kaike Salvador, who started multiple games for the team as a freshman.
And that experience on the most important unit on any football team could be invaluable this fall and will have the team better prepared for a challenging season opener.
“I think the biggest difference for us this year is we have a lot of experience on both sides of the ball really,” White said.
No matter how much experience they have, however, it pales in comparison to one of the San Jose players.
Sophomore defensive end Justin Buzzard is 47-years-old and is attracting a lot of attention around the Bay Area and beyond as he gets set to take the field this weekend.
Just how much of an impact the pastor and father of three will have in the game remains to be seen, but White expects a battle for 60 minutes.
“They’ve always got some good athletes and they get after it pretty good on defense,” the CR coach said of the Jaguars. “And they have playmakers on offense.”
Saturday’s game kicks off at noon and will be streamed live on the NorCal Sports TV channel on YouTube.
“I’m excited to get started,” White said “It’s always a fun time of the year.”
