Modesto Christian Crusaders

Coach: Steve Gleason

Career record: 8-9

Record at school: 8-9

Last year: Modesto Christian (5-6, 3-3) was a thrill show with QB Nate Sudfeld (Indiana University), scoring 32 points a game and giving up 36. It had eight playoff teams on the schedule in 2011, beating two of them.

Last league title: 2009

Last playoff berth: 2011

Coaching staff: Mark Dobbins, Guy Davidsonl, Adam Foster, Evan Schwartz, Beau Malone, Pete Micheletos.

Top returners: WR Damien Bell-White (6-4, 175) RB/LB Javaughn Iverson (5-10, 175), TE/LB Zach O’Leary (6-0, 175), RB/LB Travis Sauser (6-0, 185), RB/DB Andre Edwards (5-9, 180, jr.), RB/LB Zack McGee (6-1, 165), OL/DL Michael Baliel (5-10, 200), WR/DB Maurice Rucker (5-7, 125).

Top newcomers: TE/LB Austin DeShields (6-1, 170, jr.), TE/LB Aaron Foster (6-0, 175, jr.), Kory Mora, WR/DB Jarad Mora (6-2, 175, jr.), TB/DB Anthony Brooks (6-0, 160, jr.), RB/DB Jackson Finch (6-0, 160, jr.).

Outlook: It’s anew era on the Salida campus, with the departure of all-Stanislaus District quarterback Nate Sudfeld (2,390 yards, 29 TDs in 10 games), but his favorite target – the athletic Bell-White (62 catches, 11.3-yard avg., 7 TDs) – returns with O’Leary (14, 24.9, 4). … Eight starters return on what could be the TVL’s most explosive offense, but there’s not much depth. Even a few injuries could be devastating to MC’s playoff bid. … … The JV team was 7-2-1 and was full of skill players, while Iverson (753, 6.6, 9) and Sauser (581, 7.1, 6) return to run the ball.

Key game: Week 5 (Sept. 28) vs. Ripon. The Crusaders have aspirations of returning to the playoffs, and a win sets them up for that berth. Third place is probably at stake, too.