Returning players, new QB give St. Anthony high hopes for spring football season - Long Beach Press Telegram

Looking down the list of returning starters for the St. Anthony High football team, it’s apparent the Saints are going to have a chance to do something good during what is about to be a shortened spring season after the 2020 fall campaign was wiped out by the coronavirus pandemic.

Add incoming quarterback Joey Howorko to the mix, and St. Anthony is looking strong ahead of its nonleague opener against Lakewood on Friday at Clark Field.

Each player and coach will be allowed two tickets for fan attendance.

“It gives us a great nucleus because the key is the experience, the varsity reps,” Coach Mario Morales said. “Whether the kid’s a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, if he can get varsity reps, that just helps him for the following year.

“That’s where we’re at right now, that we’ve got those kids who were able to get a lot of varsity reps last year, and we just feel it’s going to help us experience-wise as we begin this (belated) 2020 season.”

The top returning players include junior running back/linebacker Sone Aupiu, junior wide receiver/defensive back Ryan Norried, senior wide receiver/defensive back Jason Porter, junior defensive back/running back Kweku Claybrook, sophomore wide receiver T.J. Mitchell, senior wide receiver/defensive back Victor Gomez, senior two-way linemen Gary Jondle and Liam McCarty and junior two-way lineman Sam Sulu.

Howorko, a 6-foot-3 junior, is a transfer from Saddleback Valley Christian via Canada, having come to the States in pursuit of a college football scholarship.

Morales likes what he’s seen from him.

“He’s done a good job preparing, has been patient and just really focused,” Morales said. “He’s been hoping and praying this was going to happen as far as the season and so he’s ready to go.

“He’s adjusted well to what we’re doing offensively and he’s caught on.”

Besides Howorko, top newcomers include junior linebacker/running back Anakin Aupiu (cousin to Sone Aupiu); junior linebacker/fullback Juju Puni; junior wide receiver/defensive back Jayden Cooper; junior wide receiver/defensive back A.J. Allen; senior middle linebacker Julio Prior; junior defensive back Tyler Henry; junior two-way lineman D.J. King; and sophomore two-way lineman Sau Lewis.

The Saints were 5-6 overall in 2019 and finished second in the Del Rey League at 3-1. They could contend for the league title this year, but there will not be any playoffs.

“It’s going to be very competitive,” said Morales, whose team hosts Mary Star on March 19 in the league opener. “I think that the key is going to be your depth and injury. If somebody gets hurt, it’s going to hurt not just us, but I think other teams as well because our numbers just aren’t what they have been in the past.”

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Returning players, new QB give St. Anthony high hopes for spring football season - Long Beach Press Telegram
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