Vibes are high to start the year for Kingsmen football. So is the head count.

With over 140 players, including 34 seniors, suiting up for practice, the team has more than tripled in size since 2021. Anthony Lugo, now in his fifth season as head coach, credits the increase to recruiting a particular brand of student-athlete, one more likely to remain committed for four seasons.

"It's all about getting the right guys, guys who want to be here for the right reasons: No. 1, to graduate; No. 2, to play some really good football; and No. 3, to find their passion in life," Lugo said.

Among those "right guys" are a trio of senior captains who, Lugo said, define what Cal Lutheran football is all about: linebacker Arthur Orta, defensive end Devon Goosby and center Gavin Quiroz. All three are three-year starters; Orta is a rare three-time captain. 

"They get it done in the classroom and obviously on the football field," Lugo said. 

Orta and Goosby have been playing together since they were freshmen at Villa Park High School. The Orange County brethren share a bond that extends far beyond the gridiron.

"It's been a blessing for sure," Orta said of their eight seasons together. 

The 6-foot-2-inch, 220-pound Tustin native could have hung it up after tearing his ACL near the end of his sophomore season while trying to return an interception against Pomona-Pitzer. Instead, he committed to a long and pain-staking recovery, returning in Week 3 of 2024 and finishing among the team leaders in tackles. 

"I'm super proud of him," Lugo said of Orta. "Since then he's been a starter and played every play for us."

Change in attitude

Goosby of Fullerton said this year's seniors have prioritized "buy-in" all the way down to the freshman level.

"Our big goal was to have a culture change … and I think that's happening," he said. "There's a lot less 'We've got to do this' and a lot more 'We get to do this.'"

The 2024 Kingsmen were better than their 2-8 record showed. The purple and gold lost three games by less than five points, including two decided on the final play.

"A lot of those tough losses were winnable games at one point," said Quiroz of Granada Hills. "It came down, honestly, to who had the bigger fight in them. But in the end, those games are in the past now and we're all about the present."

Goosby said the team had a tendency to throw in the towel if a few big plays didn't go their way - something they plan to change in 2025. 

"A big part of this year is coming out in the second half, no matter what position we're in, whether we're down, whether we're up, we keep that same intensity that whole way through," he said. 

New-look offense

Fans familiar with Lugo's pass-heavy offenses of the past might be in for a surprise. Given the team's skill and size up front, the Kingsmen are expected to rely more on the run in 2025.

Quiroz (6-foot, 300 pounds), a returning First Team All-SCIAC selection, anchors an offensive line that includes left tackle Jordan Ortiz (6-4, 295), right tackle Gabriel Anguiano (6-1, 320) and right guard Aaron Galicia (6-1, 300).

"I think we're the biggest in the SCIAC, for sure," Quiroz said. 

That's great news for the Kingmen's trio of talented backs: Bakersfield's Mehki Delouth, Lancaster's JD Sumlin and Simi Valley's Gabe Landless, 2024's leading rusher.

"We've got three stud running backs and obviously if you're running behind Gavin, you feel pretty confident," Orta said. 

The passing game is a work in progress. 

Gone are last year's top passer, quarterback Jaden Casey, and top receiver, Cade Cadam. Cadam is using his fifth and final year of eligibility at Division II University of San Diego after a monster 2024 in which he led the conference in catches (66) and receiving yards (1,075).

Lugo said his star receiver left on good terms.

"I say 'once a Kingsman, always a Kingsman.' We're all excited to see him play and hopefully realize his goal of playing in the NFL," the head coach said. 

Multiple players will be needed to replace Cadam's prolific production. Fortunately, the team feels it has another star in the making in TeNorris Merkel, a 6-foot-4 junior transfer originally from Burlington, Kentucky.

"He's impressive," Orta said. "I'm not going to lie, he got me on a little jet sweep a couple days ago. I'm excited for this offense."

Junior Tyler Woodworth, a 6-foot-3 transfer from Ventura College, gives the Kingsmen a 1-2 punch at receiver that should prevent opposing defenses from crowding the box. Woodworth's father, Brian, was an All-American honorable mention at Cal Lutheran in 2001, playing both receiver and punter.

Sophomore Joe Farley of Seattle drew the start at quarterback in last Saturday's Week 1 victory over Pacific Lutheran after a two-player battle this preseason, completing 13 of 28 passes for 148 yards.

On the defensive side, Orta and Goosby are among several returning starters determined to show improvement. The 2024 Kingsmen gave up 27.2 points a contest, second worst in SCIAC.

They'll be joined by returning SCIAC sack leader, defensive end Hunter Hall of Camarillo, and Blake Hurley, the conference's 2024 Newcomer of the Year. Hurley, an outside linebacker from Portland, recorded 45 tackles (six for a loss), two sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble as a freshman. 

Ready to win

After getting off to a 5-0 start as a head coach in 2021, Lugo has endured three straight losing seasons. A member of the coaching staff that shepherded the Kingsmen to four consecutive SCIAC titles between 2009 and 2012, he's seen the program's potential firsthand. 

What doesn't show up on the stat sheet is Lugo's unwavering commitment to his players.

"He's shown us so much love," Goosby said. "I'm from the Fullerton area, and for my signing day, he drove all the way down (to Orange County) just to make sure I had a (Cal Lutheran) shirt for it. . . . He does great showing how much he cares (about us), and about those little details because he knows where it's going to take us."

Quiroz said players feed off their head coach's pride for the purple and gold. 

"Coach Lugo, he's the best," Quiroz said. "He's a big Cal Lu guy so you've always got to love that about him. . . . One of the biggest things with him is 'winners win.' Granted, our record hasn't shown that, but he's pushing everyone to win this year."

Lugo said his biggest source of pride is the team's graduation rate, the number of football players who earn their degree in four years. 

"Obviously, I'm a competitor and want to win games, but it's more about helping that individual, right?" he said. "Helping them be a better man, be a better student, be a better ballplayer. It goes in that order."