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Schools

Crespi's Football Team Ready to Parlay Success

The Celts had a big year last year, advancing to the section quarterfinals, and the team has a lot of key players returning for the new season.

After going 8-4 and advancing to the Southern Section Pac-5 football quarterfinals in coach Jon Mack’s first season last year, Crespi High is hungry for more success.

With a large group of key returnees, Crespi is again loaded with talent, and if the Celts can put the new pieces together—and find a starting quarterback to replace record-setting graduate Kenny Stenhouse—it should be another strong season.

“We’re looking real good,” said Jordan Simmons, a 6-foot-5, 330-pound offensive lineman who has 32 scholarship offers and is a preseason All-American.

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Simmons, receiver Chris Harper (60 receptions, seven touchdowns) and offensive lineman Ricky Wolfe are the top returning starters, and among the others are running back Terrence Williams, receiver Mike Davison, linebacker Lawrence Wilkerson, tight ends Jack Vonarb and Trevon Callahan and defensive backs Noah Ciccel and Tyler Foreman.

“Things are going great,” Davison said.

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Crespi also has welcomed several key transfers, including touted offensive lineman Jacob Speer from Granada Hills and junior quarterback Cody Cordell from state power Oaks Christian.

“I like it here at Crespi because they take their football very seriously, and that’s why I’m here,” Speer said. “It’s like a whole new world compared to Granada."

Cordell, senior Eric Hauser and touted sophomore Brad Kaaya are the three top candidates to replace Stenhouse, who passed for 3,131 yards and 32 touchdowns, both school records.

“I like it a lot here. It’s a good environment,” Cordell said.

Hauser was a backup last year who rarely saw the football, but when he did get in, he performed well, completing 11 of 12 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Kaaya was a standout on the freshman team last year.

“Right now, I’m just trying to focus and learn the system and get accustomed,” Kaaya said.

A fourth quarterback, basketball convert London Perrantes, could also be in the mix, though he is juggling both sports and is busy during the summer with basketball, putting him behind the others. The Crespi team has been busy lifting weights, working on conditioning drills and participating in seven-on-seven passing competitions.

Next month, the Celts begin practicing in full pads. The opening scrimmage is Aug. 26 against visiting Santa Fe, and the first game is Sept. 2 at Dominguez in Compton, a favorite in the Western Division.

Simmons, who transferred from Dorsey of L.A. prior to last season, is so heavily recruited that he can pick just about any college he wants. On Monday, he said some of his favorites are USC, Oregon, Washington, Cal, Miami and Ohio State.

“I was up in Oregon last week, and it was nice,” Simmons said. “I was supposed to start narrowing down my choices a couple of weeks ago, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.”

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