The future is now for third-year East Union coach Mike Kuhnlenz.

With skillful sophomores joining a sparse-but-seasoned class of seniors, the Lancers are confident they’ll reach Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for a third straight year.

 “We don’t have a lot of seniors, but the ones we do have have been with us awhile,” Kuhnlenz said. “We’re excited for those guys that are in year 3, and we’re excited for those sophomores who went 9-1 last year (at the freshman level) and won a share of the (Valley Oak League) title.

“Overall, it’s a great group of kids and they work super hard. It’s been fun this summer to see the progress of the team, and we have got good leadership.”

Multi-position star Dylan Lee, now a middle linebacker at San Jose State, carried much of the load on both sides of scrimmage the past two seasons. The Lancers finished 4-7 last year and took a heartbreaking 33-28 loss to Nevada Union in the first round of the SJS Division IV playoffs.

Third-year linebacker Carson Sanders takes the lead defensively, and the spread offense will lean on its experienced linemen.  

Here is a closer look at the 2023 Lancers:

Offense: Kuhnlenz will start a different quarterback for a third consecutive season, the question is whom.

In competition are junior Anthony Morales and sophomore Kirk Simoni.

The latter posted impressive numbers in nine games with the freshman team and debuted with the varsity in East Union’s Week-10 contest at Kimball, showing incredible poise in the entertaining 36-30 defeat.

The 6-foot-3 Morales was also highly productive as a freshman. He quarterbacked the 2-8 JV team last season while his favorite targets from the previous year played on the varsity.  

“He’s been in the offense going on year 3, and has a good grasp of it,” Kuhnlenz said of Morales. “He has a great release and can run. We like (his mobility) because it really opens up the offense for us.

“Those guys are not backing down. They’re both competing for the job, and that’s what you want from that position. They’re making it difficult for me, for sure. It’s a good problem.”

Second-year juniors Robby Espinosa and Blake Mount and senior Orian Germann are part of a deep and athletic receiver corps, and the speedy Cesar Salinas may get the bulk of the carries at running back.

The offensive line is where the Lancers attack carries the most experience. Senior guards T.J. Agueda and Sebastian Arrizano anchor the group along with 6-5, 275-pound tackle Leland Crabb.

Defense: Two-time All-VOL selection Sanders and sophomore linebacker Brayden Camara should benefit from their experienced lineman.

Arrizano, another third-year starter, and Agueda are also on the interior of the defensive line with second-year junior Brady Rossi. Seniors Brandon McCullough and Crabb return at the ends.

“They (defensive line) did a great job last year,” Kuhnlenz said. “We want to stay healthy, that’s the big thing. They’ve been lifting a lot since January, getting bigger, stronger and faster. We’re going to ask a lot of them so that our linebackers can roam free. We think these guys are going to be able to do their job up front.”

The defensive backfield is led by Germann and Mount at the safety spots.

Schedule: Every week presents a different challenge for these Lancers, but they all could have one thing in common — as of now, none of them are taking place at Dino Cunial Field.

Six of their 10 regular-season games are on the road, and with renovations ongoing at East Union’s stadium their ‘home’ games are taking place across town at Manteca or Lathrop.

“It shouldn’t affect how we play,” Agueda said. “Yes, it sucks we may not be able to at least have a senior (night) game on our home field, but other than that, I don’t believe it will be a factor in how we play.”

East Union starts with two interesting matchups against out-of-area opponents. First is a trip to Fairfield to face 6-5, 300-pound Jericho Johnson and Armijo. Johnson is a four-star defensive tackle with 20 offers. Then the Lancers head to Tennyson of Hayward, the reigning West Alameda County Conference Foothill League champion.

They’ll round out their pre-league schedule with more-familiar opponents in Trans-Valley League contender Ripon, Enochs of Modesto and tradition-rich Lincoln from Stockton.

Kuhnlenz expects his team’s speed and toughness to be tested in the first half of its schedule, and the Lancers have not forgotten the 61-22 thrashing they took from Lincoln.

“After that, it’s the easy part of our schedule,” Kuhnlenz said sarcastically.

East Union opens VOL play against reigning champion Central Catholic, travels to Oakdale hoping to end a 29-game skid against the Mustangs and then it’s on to defending SJS Division II champion Manteca.

“That’s the VOL, Kuhnlenz said. “We wouldn’t have it any other way. We want to play great teams. That’s what makes Friday nights fun.”