Mater Dei has everything required to be the No. 1 team in the Orange County football preseason rankings.
What about the rest of the Orange County? Is Mission Viejo again the best public-school team in the county. What about Edison, which was a CIF Southern Section and CIF State champion last year?
Let’s take a look at our preseason Top 25:
ORANGE COUNTY TOP 25
1. Mater Dei (13-0 in 2024): The Monarchs return an abundance of outstanding players from last year’s team that won CIF Southern Section and CIF State championships and was No. 1 in the final MaxPreps national rankings. Seven of the top 15 players in our Hot 150 ranking of Orange County players are Mater Dei players. Senior defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui (6-3, 320) is close to unstoppable and is just one of the great players on that unit. Senior quarterback Ryan Hopkins, a transfer from JSerra, has a great arm and is one of the county’s top track sprinters. He leads what will be an outstanding offense that includes senior receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, who committed to Ohio State.
2. Mission Viejo (10-1): Senior quarterback Luke Fahey, who committed to Ohio State, leads a dynamic offense that includes Miami-committed senior receiver Vance Spafford. The defense has its usual supply of standouts in the backfield, including senior cornerback Jeron Jones. Senior defensive end JD Hill will pressure quarterbacks and help stop the run. Mission Viejo opens the season Aug. 22 at Trabuco Hills High against the No. 3 team in Orange County, which is …
3. Santa Margarita (5-7): The biggest offseason news in Orange County was Santa Margarita hiring Carson Palmer as its new head coach. The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at USC and successful NFL player now is in charge of Santa Margarita football. He takes over a team that has plenty of talent, including USC-committed senior receiver Trent Mosley. Mosley is the most dangerous offensive player in the county. Senior quarterback Trace Johnson, who committed to Tulane, is a transfer who threw for more than 3,000 yards over his past two seasons in Florida. The Eagles defense includes UCLA-committed senior safety Logan Hirou.
4. Orange Lutheran (8-4): The Lancers offense got a great deal better when running back Sean Morris II transferred from Loyola to Orange Lutheran for his senior year. Morris, who committed to Northwestern, rushed for 1,762 yards last season. He should produce similar results thanks to a big offensive line that includes Alabama-committed senior Sam Utu (6-4, 320). The Lancers have a speed-burner in junior receiver Nico Bland. OLu’s defense has a great front seven including senior defensive end Auma Jennings (6-1, 310) and sophomore Marcus Fakatou (6-7, 260).
5. Servite (6-5): Getting the football frequently to the Friars’ many speedsters could make Servite a difficult team to stop. Among them is Benjamin Harris, a junior receiver who finished second in the 100 meters at the CIF State Track Championships this past spring when Servite won the state title. Other potential offensive weapons are senior running back Gavin Gutierrez and Nebraska-committed senior tight end Luke Sorenson. Servite also has one of Southern California’s better offensive lines that includes sophomores Keiden Lokeni and Elisha Mueller. The defense has plenty of talent, too, including linebackers Isaia Leilua, a junior, and senior Brando Mosqueda.
6. San Juan Hills (10-2): This team will win and entertain. Senior quarterback Timmy Herr was Bravo League MVP last year when he passed for for 2,230 yards and 22 touchdowns with only four interceptions while scoring nine rushing touchdowns. Receivers Luke Frith and Ryan Matheson had 46 and 44 receptions last year, respectively. Senior running back Elijah Ayala is set for another big year. Two-way lineman Cooper Javorsky (6-4, 280) has committed to UCLA as an offensive lineman.
7. Edison (12-4): The Chargers won CIF Southern Section and CIF State championships last year. It’s difficult to repeat that, but Edison has the components required for continued success. Sam Thomson, a senior, took over the quarterback position partway through last season and did a solid job through league games and the postseason triumphs. Edison traditionally has excellent line play and that should continue, led by Devyn Blake (6-3, 280). Junior running back Sam Edmisten, who shined when needed in the playoffs, will benefit from that.
8. Tustin (9-2): This team has plentiful size and abundant athleticism. Jon Ioane (6-3, 290) and Jeremiah Williams (6-2, 305) are attacking defensive linemen, and Ioane also will bolster the offensive line. Junior safety Khalil Terry was All-County first team last year. Senior linebacker Taven Epps is an elite player and is committed to Texas. Sophomore quarterback Ayden Edwards (6-4) might be as good at the position as anyone the school has had in a long time.
9. Crean Lutheran (9-3): With a healthy Caden Jones at quarterback and several talented transfers, the Saints might have their best football team. Crean Lutheran has deluxe speed at the skill positions. Among the move-ins are defensive end James Carrington, a Florida State commit from Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas, and receiver Ty Johnson from Texas. UCLA-committed senior defensive lineman Anthony Jones (6-5, 270) will move around in the defensive scheme. The offensive line is about the only questionable unit, although it has the potential to develop into something special.
10. Yorba Linda (11-2): The Mustangs return six starters on offense and eight starters on defense from a team that was a CIF-SS Division 2 semifinalist last year. Among the returning starters are standouts Thomas Knutson in the defensive backfield, Onassis Lim at linebacker and Blake Thorp on the defensive line. Troy Roberts, a junior, was Yorba Linda’s leading receiver last year. The Mustangs had not settled on a starting quarterback in early August, but coach Jeff Bailey was confident that whatever is resolved there will be just fine.
11. San Clemente (6-6): The Tritons bring back five starters on offense and six on offense, which is a required amount of experience for a team that plays in the challenging Alpha League.
12. Los Alamitos (6-6): The Griffins have a terrific running back, Lenny Ibarra, a tough defense led by linebacker Jackson Renger and coach Ray Fenton expects great things from first-year starting quarterback Colin Creason.
13. JSerra (6-5): Yes, the Lions lost a couple of good players via transfer, but JSerra remains a solid program. Senior tackle Josh Haney (6-5, 290) is committed to Fresno State.
14. La Habra (10-2): Junior quarterback DJ Mitchell is a star-in-the-making, and the Highlanders have a pair of productive running backs in Kevika Martinez and Bobby Brooks.
15. Capistrano Valley (8-3): Look for the Cougars to again be a high-scoring team, led by junior Talon Spencer, who moves to quarterback after having a great season as a receiver last year.
16. Dana Hills (10-3): The Dolphins, who were CIF-SS Division 6 semifinalists last year, are led offensively by senior running back Radley Geiss, who will again be one of the county’s rushing leaders.
17. Western (5-6): Junior quarterback Chance Thomas is on the radar of many college programs. Look for the Pioneers to be better defensively than they were last year when they gave up 36 points a game.
18. Huntington Beach (7-5): The Oilers are led by quarterback Brady Edmunds, an Ohio State-committed junior who was All-Orange County first team last season.
19. Villa Park (7-4): Seven sophomores will be starters, so the first half of the schedule will serve as a learning experience for a team that will improve as the season progresses.
20. Newport Harbor (3-7): It’s always good to have a returning starting quarterback and the Sailors have one with Jake Meer, but their defense needs to improve.
21. Corona del Mar (4-6): The Sea Kings will try to get the football to dangerous senior running back/receiver Dorsett Stecker any way possible
22. Trabuco Hills (5-6): The Mustangs have Tristan Zale returning as the starting quarterback, and Landon Pompey returns as a running back, but they have no returning starters on defense.
23. El Toro (5-6): Senior running back Makya Chee rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore and junior and should be just as good again with help from offensive linemen Henry Tingey and Nate Nuelle.
24. Troy (9-2): The defending Iota League champion Warriors bring back senior running back Ethan Mundt, who rushed for 1,502 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.
25. Tesoro (3-7): Strong line play was key during the Titans’ many successful seasons, and that could be the foundation if the program returns to prominence.
