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The top players and season outlook for all four teams in the Pacific Hills League:

PACIFIC HILLS LEAGUE

BECKMAN

Top players: Nick Molina, QB, So.; Kenny Aldaco, RT, Jr.; Jonathan Sandoval, RB, Sr.; Vincent Kim, OLB/SS, Sr.; Christian Taylor, LB, Sr.

What to expect: The Patriots expect to be improved after finishing 2-8 last season. Coach Marcello Giuliano mixes a few key returning seniors with several young players. Beckman’s most experience is at running back with senior Jonathan Sandoval (408 yards last season) and at linebacker with seniors Vincent Kim and Christian Taylor. All three earned all-league honors last season. Junior right tackle Kenny Aldaco (6-5, 270) leads the linemen. One of the team’s main questions is at quarterback. Sophomore Nick Molina, who saw significant time last season, and junior Austin Shepard, who was injured in 2021, are competing for the starting position. If Beckman’s young players make strides, the team could contend for its first playoff berth since 2016.

PORTOLA

Top players: Aiden Park, RB/LB, Sr.; Marcus Sung, RB/LB, Jr.; Rocky Palacio, QB, Jr.; Ethan Ramirez, OL, Sr.; Micah Talapatra, S, Sr.

What to expect: The Bulldogs finished 0-3 last season in the top tier of the Pacific Coast Conference and is now in the lower tier Pacific Hills League. Portola is retooling after the graduation of standout running back Nova Kebeli and other key seniors from a squad that finished 7-4 overall. Coach Peter Abe said his team will stick with its spread attack but attempt to distribute the opportunities between more players than in the past. He views senior Aiden Park and junior Marcus Sung as running backs who will help fill the void of Kebeli, who rushed for 1,903 yards and 22 TDs last season. Abe also is high on junior quarterback Rocky Palacio. Some of the team’s best depth is in the secondary with defensive backs Micah Talapatra, Kamran Jahromi, Rider Cooper and Zephyr Suri, a returning all-league selection. Dean Berger, the squad’s top returning wide receiver, is recovering from an injury but should return “a few weeks” into the season, Abe said. Portola could contend for the Pacific Hills title.

UNIVERSITY

Top players: Koa Saito, QB, Jr.; Blaine Anderson, WR, Jr.; Eithar Takesh, S, Jr.; Christopher Rue, LB, Sr.; Brooks Beckmann, FS, Jr.

What to expect: Second-year coach Vincent Mesa believes his squad will be improved after its 2-8 finish last season. The team’s depth looks better but the roster is young with Mesa projecting to start only three seniors. The offense will feature the most experience with seven returning starters. Mesa is high on dual-threat quarterback Koa Saito, a junior who also excels in lacrosse. University’s attack showed progress over the summer by finishing second in the Laguna Beach passing tournament. Juniors Blaine Anderson and Jonathan Soto are the top targets. The strength of the defense appears to be at safety with juniors Eithar Takesh (6-0, 215) and speedy Brooks Beckmann (6-1, 185). The Trojans will be inexperienced at spots along the lines but still have a chance to surprise. The program last reached the postseason in 2015.

WOODBRIDGE

Top players: Edward Ma, QB, Jr.; Daniel Goodrich, WR/DB, Sr.; Feiamma Armstrong, RB, Sr.; Dereck Moore, WR/DB, Sr.; Eddie Arhin, DE, Sr.

What to expect: The Warriors look like the team to beat in the Pacific Hills League with their talented skill players and strong finish last season. Emerging quarterback Edward Ma led Woodbridge to the CIF-SS Division 12 semifinals. Ma started last season on the junior varsity but finished with 1,229 yards and nine TDs. The Warriors also return running back Feiamma Armstrong (844 yards) and two-way standout Daniel Goodrich. The senior wide receiver/safety led the team with 41 receptions for 574 yards and tallied 95 tackles and seven interceptions. Goodrich also punts and kicks. Woodbridge’s list of skill players includes cornerback/wide receiver Dereck Moore, who was recently offered by UNLV. Moore was injured in the season-opener last season but he returned after missing some games and helped spark Woodbridge’s finish, third-year coach Aaron Craver said. Craver likes the team’s potential in the trenches but points to linebacker as an area where the Warriors need to find answers.

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