CR linebacker prays tribute to teammates, team culture after impressive start 

By Ray Hamill — College of the Redwoods came storming out of the starting gates at San Jose City College on Saturday, leaving fans optimistic of a good fall for the local community college program.

Before the first game of the season, head coach Jason White told Humboldt Sports he believed this was the best prepared CR team for a first game since the program was brought back after a brief hiatus in the fall of 2022, and his players backed that belief with a dominating 41-21 win.

CR dominated in all aspects of a game that wasn’t as close as the final score would suggest, putting up 28 first-half points and holding the Jaguars to just one touchdown until late in the game, when the outcome had long been decided.

There were several standouts for the visitors, including quarterback Kasen Covert, who excelled in his first start for the team, as well as an experienced offensive line that looks like it should be a team strength in 2026.

Likewise on defense, where a new-look defensive line quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with, along with a secondary that lived up to its billing as the strength of the team’s defense.

But few players enjoyed a better season debut than sophomore linebacker Caleb Morgan, who was quick to praise the contributions of his teammates after the impressive season opener.

“I think it was great to see our offense come alive in the first quarter,” Morgan said. “Our quarterback, Kasen Covert, it was great to se him play well. He’s a stud, and (receiver) Tre Silva, I’m glad he’s finally getting the opportunity to show what he can do.

“And we’ve got a lot of IQ on that line. It was great to see them do well. We’ve got a lot of things coming together.”

Morgan was as impressive as any of his teammates and set the tone on defense with a team-high six solo tackles, as well as a sack, two tackles for a loss and a pass break up.

“That kid can play,” White said. “He definitely stood out on our defense.”

Morgan, a second-year player with the team who started three games late in 2025, believes it was a team effort on both sides of the ball.

“I was a little bit worried at first with our defensive line,” Morgan said of a unit that featured new starters this fall. “They don’t have a lot of returners, and it was kind of going to be a test, but all of us are happy with the way they played.

“And I wouldn’t have been able to perform like I did without those guys.”

Likewise with a secondary that featured starters Ja’Ere Alexander, Chaz Scott Jr., Kameron Rague and Tate Snyder, a much heralded unit that lived up to their lofty preseason billing.

Asked whether he believes the secondary is a strength on this year’s team, Morgan replied without hesitation.

“For sure,” he said. “And it took a lot of my worries away knowing that those guys had my back.”

Morgan and his teammates will try to keep the fast start to the season going in their home opener this weekend against Reedley College, which won a low-scoring opener against DeAnza, 9-6.

That game will be played at the Redwood Bowl on Saturday, with kickoff set for 1 p.m.

And Morgan is expecting a battle.

“We had a lot of hopes coming into this season, and after how we started I think the entire team is ready for that challenge on Saturday,” the linebacker said. 

Morgan joined CR out of high school, but growing up in Southern Oregon he almost opted to join Division-2 Western Oregon after graduating Ashland High.

And CR fans can thank CR coaches for convincing the standout to move to the North Coast.

“At the end of my senior year I was really considering where to go and I had the opportunity to play Division-2 at Western Oregon,” he admitted. “And then I got talking to the coaching staff here at College of the Redwoods and they told me what I could achieve.

“I know these guys want the best for me. I have the opportunity to develop here and I believe in this coaching staff.”

A positive team culture is something White and his staff have tried to build at CR, and that’s something Morgan has noticed and appreciates.

“It is definitely really important,” the linebacker said. “This year’s team and the culture we’ve got in the locker room is awesome.

“Everybody’s friends with everybody, and we’ve all got each others’ back.

“Everybody’s got a common goal and everybody wants everybody to succeed, and you can’t ask for more than that from a team.”