Football: Crespi’s summer push is showing signs of progress

Crespi football Coach Troy Thomas likes passing competitions in the summer about as much as fatty foods. So understand it’s not a big priority for him, but the way his team was playing in Saturday’s Huntington Beach passing tournament left little doubt the Celts are making great progress as competitors and players this summer.

“I saw a turning in the spring,” Thomas said. “We’re practicing hard.”

The Celts showed off lots of good athletes and were tied with St. John Bosco trying to go to 3-0 in the morning before the Braves’ Kaylin Franklin made a spectacular touchdown catch on a pass from backup Quentin Davis to give the Braves the victory. Crespi ended up going 4-1 on the day. St. John Bosco won the championship.

What Crespi has is the best safety in the Southland in Marvell Tell, who also is doing some receiving. Left-handed quarterback Wes Massett has lots of promise, and tight end Shannon Miller has been making lots of big catches this summer, along with Chris May. D.J. Beavers is a top player and T.J. Brumfield can’t wait to carry the football.

It’s going to be very hard in the fall to figure out who wins the new Mission League made up of the Celts, Alemany, Gardena Serra, Bishop Amat, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Chaminade and Loyola. All have capable teams.

But Thomas, who won a couple of Pac-5 titles at Servite until returning to his alma mater last season, is beginning to like the attitude of his players, and that’s a must requirement in his Coaching 101 playbook.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer