Santa Maria head football coach Albert Mendoza didn’t sugarcoat it in a brief recent interview when it came to his team’s experience level.

“We lost a lot of players to graduation,” including top skills position players and players who had helped anchor the team’s offensive and defensive lines, Mendoza said.

“It’s a young group. Lots of guys who are coming back did not get a lot of playing time last year.” Besides, the Saints did not participate in summer seven-on-seven tournaments.

Nonetheless, “The guys are working very hard,” Mendoza said.

“It will be a season of progression. Hopefully, we’ll be able to hit our stride after the bye week.” Santa Maria’s bye week will come after its fourth game of its 10-game regular season.   

“We’ll be run-oriented,” said Mendoza. “We’ve got Mario Calderon at running back. He’s a bigger back than we usually have.” Calderon, a junior who is also a middle linebacker, is Santa Maria’s only returning starter on defense.  

Santa Maria will open at home against crosstown rival Righetti Aug. 22. Kickoff at Santa Maria’s Ralph Baldiviez Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.

Before the game there will be a dinner honoring the 2025 Santa Maria Athletics Hall of Fame. The dinner will take place in the Santa Maria cafeteria Aug. 22, beginning at 5 p.m.

Though he is an experienced returner, Santa Maria senior Emmanuel Perez Hernandez has had to adjust to switching positions again.

“I’m playing center again,” on offense, the third-year Santa Maria varsity member said, “I played right guard last year. I played center my sophomore year.

“It’s been kind of an adjustment. I had to go back to remembering all the plays for all the positions so my O line could depend on me. I definitely feel I’m in sync (with the offense), though.”

Meanwhile, senior guard Matthew Trejo Flores is returning to the position he held last year in his second year on the varsity.

“I’m pretty comfortable with the system,” said Trejo Flores.

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The Saints will also be relying on senior running back/safety Estevan Rosales. “We’ve got pretty much the same system as we did last year, so it won’t be much of an adjustment for me,” said Rosales.

Here is a look at the Saints at a glance.

Coach:  Albert Mendoza, fifth year.

2024 record: 3-8 (0-4, Ocean League). The Saints went out in the first round of the CIF Central Section Division 5 playoffs.

2025 opener: At home vs. Righetti, Aug. 22, 7:30 p.m.

Quarterback: The Saints are not set at the position yet. Manual Astorga, the projected starter, was injured. Senior Jorge Salazar and sophomore Tanner Finley are competing for the position. Finley and Salazar are defensive back son defense. 

Returning starters on offense: Perez Hernandez, Trejo Flores.

Returning starters on defense: Calderon.

Other key returners: Finley, Rosales, Jose Reyes, Andy Velasquez.

Key losses from 2024 team: Michael Herrera, running back, Adrian Pasos, quarterback/defensive back, Aalan Cueva, wide receiver/cornerback, David Ramos, offensive guard/defensive back, Sinait Zaragoza, two-way lineman, Eric Lucas, tight end/middle linebacker;  Anthony Hernandez.