OCVarsity Kickoff 2017: The Register has put together its annual preview for the upcoming high school football season.
In the coming days we’ll have previews online of every team and league in Orange County, plus much more, including our O.C. Hot 150 rankings of the top players in the county.
GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE
(OC Varsity’s rating is based on analysis of the team’s expected showing this season.)
BOLSA GRANDE
Last season: 1-9, 0-5 league
OCVarsity rating: Hard team to read; likely to struggle
Scouting report: Bolsa Grande has a new head coach, Alfredo Silva, who hopes that structure and discipline will help turn the Matadors around. Andrew Guillen returns as the starting quarterback alongside returning running back Elian Gallegos. Guillen has been working with quarterback coaches and has shown signs of improvement, leading the Matadors deep into local passing league tournaments. His primary target will be Jaylen Todd, who is running “crisp routes” under the new coaching staff, according to Silva. Linebacker Daniel Alvarez returns to lead the defense after leading the team in sacks in 2016.
Key players: Andrew Guillen, QB, Sr.; Eilian Gallegos, RB, Sr.; Jaylen Todd, WR, Jr.; Jonathan Soliz, OL, Sr.; Daniel Alvarez, OLB/FB, Jr.; Julian Elias, CB, Sr.
Must-see game: Bolsa Grande vs. Savanna, Sept. 7
Schedule and roster: Click here
GARDEN GROVE
Last season: 9-3, 5-0 league
OC Varsity rating: Team to beat
Scouting report: Garden Grove has not lost a league game since 2011 and wants to continue that trend before departing the Garden Grove League next season. Standout running back Dominik Sanchez returns as the primary ball carrier, after rushing for nearly 10 yards per carry in 2016. Cristian Marquez and Jacob Zauzueta are competing for the starting quarterback position, and according to Coach Ricardo Cepeda, the two are making his decision difficult. Brandon Coleman is returning for the Argonauts and is the best defensive player in the league. Coleman had 104 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles as a junior. TJ Taufetee returns at linebacker where he had 12 tackles for a loss last season. Senior Peselao Gauta, who was the league’s lineman of the year in 2016, is not with the team this season.
Key players: TJ Taufetee, WR/SS, Sr.; Brandon Coleman, WR/FS, Sr.; Mike Carillo, RB/LB, Jr.; Dominik Sanchez, RB, Sr.
Must-see game: Garden Grove vs. La Quinta, Oct. 5
Schedule and roster: Click here
LA QUINTA
Last season: 7-3 overall, 3-2 league
OC Varsity rating: Should earn playoff spot
Scouting report: La Quinta has 19 returning starters this season and 12 returning all-league players. Quarterback Michael Nadeau is entering his junior season, after throwing 21 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2016. “He’s a special kid,” La Quinta coach Andy Diaz said of Nadeau. “He’s huge, a three-sport athlete who is strong and can run. We run an option offense and he is becoming more comfortable making the correct reads.” All four defensive backs for the Aztecs are returning all-league players. La Quinta is the biggest threat to Garden Grove’s five-year league championship reign.
Key players: Michael Nadeau, QB, Jr.; Dylan Do, RB, Sr.; Jayelen Walker, WR/CB, Sr.; Louis Bui, DE, Sr.; Jose Arredondo, DE, Sr.
Must-see game: La Quinta vs. Garden Grove, Oct. 5
Schedule and roster: Click here
LOS AMIGOS
Last season: 6-5 overall, 3-2 league
OC Varsity rating: Hard team to read; could surprise
Scouting report: Los Amigos is projected to have nine sophomores in its starting lineup. It will be a difficult task to replace Steven Hernandez, who was the Garden Grove league offensive player of the year in 2016. Hernandez rushed for 1,906 yards and 20 touchdowns. Replacing him is the sophomore duo of Brandon Pacheco and Joseph Garcia. Coach Carl Agnew believes Pacheco might develop into a one of the best ball carriers in the county. The Lobos haven’t missed the playoffs since 2010 and expect to be in the playoff conversation this season, despite their young roster.
Key players: Brandon Pacheco, RB, So.; Andrew Contreras, LB, Jr.; Tomas Sephen, OL, Sr.; Joseph Garcia, RB/LB, So.; Saul Robles, TE/LB, Sr.
Must-see game: Los Amigos vs. La Quinta, Nov. 3
Schedule and roster: Click here
RANCHO ALAMITOS
Last season: 7-5, 3-2 league
OC Varsity rating: Has potential to be playoff team
Scouting report: Rancho Alamitos lost a lot of talent from last season’s second-place team, but they have two stars returning that Coach Mike Enright raves about: Cross Faletoi and Victor Mendoza. Faletoi played several positions in 2016 and will be the team’s quarterback this season. He had nine receiving touchdowns last year and threw for two touchdowns. Faletoi, a junior, has stepped up as the team leader and is one of the best players Enright has coached. Mendoza recorded a team-high 112 tackles and nine sacks in 2016. If Faletoi and Mendoza are as good as they were last year, Rancho Alamitos could be a playoff team again.
Key players: Chris Lenna, WR/DB, Jr.; Nathan Kanyavong, RB, Jr.; Cross Faletoi, QB, Jr.; Erik Maitland, LB, Sr.; Victor Mendoza, LB, Sr.; Kevin Reynosa, OL/DL, Jr.; Colby Mackey, OL, Sr.
Must-see game: Rancho Alamitos vs. Los Amigos, Oct. 6
Schedule and roster: Click here
SANTIAGO
Last season: 2-8 overall, 1-4 league
OC Varsity rating: Hard team to read; could surprise
Scouting report: Santiago had a rough season in 2016 – it lost two one-score games. Senior Angel Tajimaroa returns at quarterback after earning second-team all-league honors in 2016. The run-heavy offense will feature running back Dylan Ourng, who averaged 5.3 yards per carry in 2016 and scored three touchdowns. “He (Ourng) is a great kid who will play both ways and really lead this team,” Coach Brandon Croft said. “The guys on the team really look up to his example.” Santiago is a senior-heavy team that will win more games than it did in 2016.
Key players: Angel Tajimaroa, QB, Sr.; Jose Ornelas, FS, Sr.; Dylan Ourng, RB, Sr.; David Ramirez, RB/SS, Jr.; Alfredo Mojica, DL, Jr.
Must-see game: Santiago vs. Los Amigos, Oct. 26
Schedule and roster: Click here
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OCVarsity Football 2017: Team pages, schedules, rosters, stats