Stone Ridge Christian football to play in new on-campus stadium, join Southern League
Stone Ridge Christian senior Carson Lund has had August 23rd season-opening game against Calaveras circled on his calendar for months.
For the first time the Knights football program will host a game on their new on-campus stadium.
Lund, a four-year starter and team captain, said it’s been a long time coming.
“I can’t wait,” Lund said. “I’m so happy to finally be able to play on our field, right next to our school. It’s going to be amazing.”
The new $2 million stadium will have the same feel as the Knights’ prior home at Castle Field. In fact, the school has moved the goal posts, bleachers, press box and flag poll from Castle Field to the new stadium.
The stadium should hold crowds of about 1,500 people.
Lund feels playing on campus will bring a new energy to games.
“I think more people will come to games with the stadium on campus,” Lund said. “As players, you feed off the energy in the crowd. I think it’s going to make for better games. It’s just going to be special, because I played three years on a different field, and now we have a new one. It’s a really nice field, I love it.”
The new stadium comes as the program transitions from the Central California Athletic Alliance to the Southern League this season as the Knights prepare to face bigger, more established schools.
It definitely feels like a turning point for the program.
“We’re as excited as we’ve ever been,” said Stone Ridge Christian head coach Anthony DeJager. “It’s really joyful to feel like we’re in a place where we can belong. From our coaches to our administration to our players, we feel like we’re home now.”
The travel will be a lot easier with SRC located in the middle of the Southern League. The Knights won’t have to travel to Tracy for a league game.
The Knights are also happy to leave the 40-point blowouts behind and welcome more competitive games.
“We’re the new kids, and it’s going to be tough for us, but the opportunity to compete is just such an exciting thing,” DeJager said. “You have that with the new stadium and there’s this energy around the program, and it is really great.”
With many key players like Lund, Daijon O’Neil and Luke Agueda returning, the Knights hope to compete with the top teams in the Southern League like Le Grand right away.
O’Neil rushed for 1,449 yards and 15 touchdowns to help lead the Knights to a 9-2 season last year.
“He’s a dog,” Lund said. “When he gets the ball in his hands, he just doesn’t want to go down until he gets in the end zone. He is going fight for every yard. It’s just special.”
O’neil will still see time as a wingback, but DeJager wants to get O’Neil out in space so he will see time at slot receiver as well.
“He’s a very talented ball carrier, but he’s we’re going to utilize him much more at receiver, because we think he can break games open,” DeJager said.
Lund will play wing and Agueda will carry the load at running back. Sophomore Marcus Gray will start at quarterback and the Knights have a weapon at tight end in Vinny Tome. The offensive line will be anchored by juniors Devin MacLachlan and Christian Means.
A lot of those same players will be counted to anchor the defense.
“No doubt about it, this is a massive step up for us this season, “ DeJager said. “It’s not just the Southern League, but we don’t have any of the division seven games from the schedules we’ve had in the previous 10 years.”
“We expected, to go into every league game for the last several years and win handily,” he added. “We don’t think that that’s going to be the case anymore. “It’s going to test us to a degree that we haven’t been tested before. Our guys are going to have to toughen up.”
Here’s a look at some of the other Merced-area teams in the Southern League.
Mariposa — The Grizzlies are looking to rebound from an 0-10 season under second-year coach Chase Pometta.
Mariposa’s roster has more than doubled in size for 16 players last year, including 10 underclassmen, to 35 players this season.
The Grizzlies will be led by juniors Laten Butler (receiver/safety), Carmine Sandoval (running back/linebacker), Eamon Fluharty (offensive line/linebacker), Collin Hopman (offensive line/defensive line) and Ben Lingenfelter (receiver/defensive back).
Gustine — The Reds will be short on numbers with just 18 players on the varsity team.
Gustine is coming off of a 4-6 season. With rival Orestimba leaving the Southern League for the Trans-Valley League, the annual Battle for the Chief will take place in the opening week of the season.
The Reds will count on returners Austin Etherridge (fullback/linebacker), Reese Carlucci (offensive line/defensive line), Joao Palomino (running back/linebacker) and Alex Quezada (receiver/defensive back) on both sides of the ball.
Delhi —The Hawks’ season a year ago was marred by a brawl against El Capitan in the opening week that led to Delhi forfeiting two games and many players facing lengthy suspensions.
The Hawks will lean on the experience of returning players like Antonio Gutierrez (fullback/linebacker), Sergio Bueno (quarterback/defensive back), Diego Cardenas (running back/linebacker), Roberto Chan (running back/defensive back) and Xavier Ramirez (fullback/linebacker).
Schedules
Stone Ridge Christian
Sept. 23. vs Calaveras
Sept. 6 at Chowchilla
Sept. 13 vs Modesto Christian
Sept. 20 vs Denair
Sept. 27 at Delhi
Oct. 4 at Waterford
Oct. 11 vs Le Grand
Oct. 18 at Mariposa
Oct. 25 vs Gustine
Nov. 1 vs San Rafael
Gustine
Oct. 23 vs Orestimba
Sept. 6 at Delta
Sept. 13 vs Yosemite
Sept. 20 vs Mariposa
Sept. 27 at Denair
Oct. 4 at Riverbank
Oct. 11 at Waterford
Oct. 18 vs Le Grand
Oct. 25 at Stone Ridge Christian
Nov. 1 vs Delhi
Delhi
Aug. 23 vs Esparto
Aug. 29 at Ceres
Sept. 6 vs Madera South
Sept. 12 at Gilroy
Sept. 20 vs Le Grand
Sept. 27 vs Stone Ridge Christian
Oct. 4 at Mariposa
Oct. 18 vs Waterford
Oct. 25 at Denair
Nov. 1 at Gustine
Mariposa
Aug. 23 at Yosemite
Aug. 29 at Minarets
Sept. 6 at Big Valley Christian
Sept. 13 vs Sierra
Sept. 20 at Gustine
Oct. 4 vs Delhi
Oct. 11 at Denair
Oct. 18 vs Stone Ridge Christian
Oct. 25 vs Waterford
Nov. 1 at Le Grand
