By Ray Hamill — The Crusaders will be tested right out of the starting gates this weekend, as they get set for a showdown against one of the most competitive programs in the North Coast Section and beyond in their season opener.
On Saturday afternoon, St. Vincent de Paul travels to Crusader Field for the Game of the Week here on the North Coast.
It should be a good one between two programs that are not only perennial playoff contenders in the NCS, but two schools that have made their presence felt in the state playoffs over the past decade.
The Mustangs have won two state titles over the past three years and have the advantage of having played last week, opening with a 40-0 win at Mesa Verde.
On the other hand, however, they won’t have any game film on the Crusaders, who have had an extra week to prepare for this one after an opening-weekend bye.
“They’re just a tremendous program,” St. Bernard’s head coach Matt Tomlin said of the Mustangs. “And they have one of the best coaches in the North Coast Section (Trent Herzog) and one of the best coaches in California.”
The Crusaders, however, should be up for that challenge and feature a talented and extremely experienced lineup that looks like it could be one of the best — if not the best — in the H-DNL this fall.
Especially in the trenches.
Senior quarterback Trenten Hagler is back for his fourth year as a varsity starter and will be protected by the most experienced line on the North Coast.
Center Josh Tinkham is also a four-year varsity starter and is “the best lineman in the county,” according to Tomlin, while right guard Teqkauri Achane and left tackle Asher Floyd are both three-year starters.
Hagler and Tinkham were all-league selections last year, along with receiver/linebacker Garret Shanahan, while Achane and Floyd were all-league honorable mentions, so it’s not just experience the Mustangs will have to account for.
Senior left guard Alex Cox is a second-year starter for SB, while junior right tackle Julius Rojo also saw a lot of playing time in last year’s playoffs.
“We’re very big and we’re very experienced,” Tomlin said of the offensive and defensive lines.
In addition to Hagler, who has shown improvement in all of his three previous years at quarterback, the offensive backfield will feature a pair of running backs who also saw plenty of time last year, senior Robert Sirrine and sophomore Jack Omey.
Both are “hard runners,” according to the coach.
Rounding out the offense is a group of receivers that could be the deepest position group on the team, and a corps that is big and talented.
Shanahan will start at receiver, along with senior Braedon Simpson, junior Henry Hinrichs and sophomore Cal Figas, with sophomore Maddox Boham the fifth option who will also see plenty of time on the field.
Figas is expected to have a big impact this fall.
“He’s one of the most talented athletes in the county,” Tomlin said. “Her’s a very special player.”
Boham scored a pair of touchdowns at the H-DNL preseason jamboree, showcasing just how deep the Crusaders at the receiver position.
“We really like our offense,” Tomlin said.
The Mustangs, however, also feature plenty of very good options at receiver, a position group that Tomlin feels is their strength.
They will go up against a young but talented SB secondary, which features three starting sophomores, so that particular battle could be key in deciding Saturday’s game.
Sophomores Figas, Boham and Mason Long will start in the defensive backfield for St. Bernard’s, along with Hinrichs, the latter of whom is coming off a big sophomore year back there a year ago.
“We’re young, but we’re super talented,” Tomlin said of his secondary.
Sirrine, who was an all-league honorable mention in 2025, is back at middle linebacker and will be a playmaking leader for the Crusaders at the position.
Tinkham, Achane and Floyd will also start on the defensive line.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 2 p.m.
