The top players and season outlook for all four teams in the South Coast League:

SOUTH COAST LEAGUE PREVIEW

Capistrano Valley wide receiver Dane Benedix carries the ball after a catch during a nonleague game against Orange on Friday, September 17, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

CAPISTRANO VALLEY

Top players: Dane Benedix, WR/DB, Sr.; Jack Culver, DB, Sr.; Gavin Disbro, OL/DL, So.; Dylan Fingersh, K, Jr.; Trey Kukuk, QB, Sr.; Riley Walker, So., LB.

What to expect: Capistrano Valley, which finished in a three-way tie for first with El Toro and Trabuco Hills in the Sea View League last season, was promoted to the South Coast League this season. The Cougars and Coach Sean Curtis, in his third season in charge of Capo Valley football, have one of the county’s better returning quarterbacks, Trey Kukuk, who was Sea View League offensive MVP and All-Orange County second team last season when he averaged 303 yards passing and 76 yards rushing a game. He passed for a county-record 615 yards in a 59-56 win over Trabuco Hills. Dane Benedix was all-league first team last year when he had team-highs of 75 receptions and 12 receiving touchdowns. He is No. 10 on the Register’s ranking of the top receivers in Orange County this season. Benedix, an All-Orange County second-team defensive back in 2021, also led the Cougars in interceptions with six. All-Sea View League first-team linebacker Jackson Sievers (6-2, 202) had 136 tackles last season as a sophomore and is ranked by the Register as the No. 7 linebacker in O.C. Dylan Fingersh, a junior, is among the county’s better kickers. The Cougars have only three returning starters on offense and three on defense, and their interior line play might not be up to the high standards of the South Coast League. If Capistrano Valley finishes third in this four-team league and receives an at-large playoff berth, and is sent to a friendly playoff division, the Cougars just might win a playoff game or two.

MISSION VIEJO

Top players: Jackson Holman, WR, Sr.; Mikey Matthews, WR, Sr.; Jack Matranga, LB, Jr.; Kadin Semonza, QB, Sr.

What to expect: The Diablos went 9-2 overall and were league champions (3-0 in league) last season, and they are the league favorites again this season. They are also the best public-school team in Orange County. Mikey Matthews (5-10, 185) was league MVP last season when he caught 66 passes for 843 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has offers from many colleges including Arizona, Colorado and Michigan. QB Kadin Semonza (6-1, 190) took league offensive MVP honors last season after completing 69 percent of his passes for 2,532 yards and 25 touchdowns. He committed to Ball State. Arizona-committed Jackson Holman (6-3, 200) is a strong, fast receiver who is poised for a huge season. Linebacker Jack Matranga (6-2, 220) was all-league first team as a sophomore. Coach Chad Johnson, in his fifth season as Mission Viejo coach, can expect the Diablos to score plenty of points. Their defense should be outstanding, too. The challenge for Mission Viejo is a nonleague schedule that includes Servite, Long Beach Poly and Alemany, and lack of depth along the offensive and defensive lines. If Mission Viejo can escape being placed in the Division 1 playoff bracket it will be a top contender in Division 2.

San Clemente’s Blake Allen runs past Corona del Mar’s Kaulin Post in a nonleague football game at San Clemente High Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

SAN CLEMENTE

Top players: Blake Allen, RB/DB, Sr.; Colin Brophy, OL, Sr.; Brad Gerken, DB, Sr.; Brock Della Vedova, WR/TE, Jr.; Thomas Hartanov, WR, Sr.; Ryder Insley, Sr., DB; Cole Robertson, LB, Sr.

What to expect: After winning the league championship in 2020 the Tritons finished second in ’21 at 3-1 with a 7-4 overall record. San Clemente 11th-year coach Jaime Ortiz brings back eight starters on offense and eight on defense. Six of the returning starters will be three-year starters, so experience is not an issue. Last season the Tritons’ freshman and junior varsity teams were league champions. Colin Brophy (6-2, 220), Brad Gerken (5-11, 190), Thomas Hartanov (6-0, 185), Ryder Insley (5-9, 165) and Cole Robertson (6-0, 200) were all-league first team last season. Robertson averaged a team-leading 11 tackles a game, was the team’s defensive MVP, was All-County third team and is the No. 5 linebacker in the Register’s ranking for the position. Like every other Orange County football team, except Mater Dei, San Clemente lacks depth at offensive and defensive line, so keeping starters healthy there will be crucial. The Tritons again look like the top challenger to Mission Viejo in the South Coast League. And they again look like a team that will be in the Orange County top 10 all season.

Tesoro quarterback Gavin Shaigineik looks for a receiver in the first quarter against El Toro in Lake Forest on Friday, September 24, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

TESORO

Top players: Owen Burnside, DL/TE, Sr.; Jack Brundage, Sr, LB; Owen Hernandez, OL, Sr.; Mason Wolfe, WR, Sr.

What to expect: The Titans had a rough 2021 season, going 2-8 overall and 0-3 in the South Coast League. Their average margin of defeat in league was 29 points. This could be a better season for Tesoro and 10th-year Coach Matt Poston. Tesoro has 13 returning starters, five on offense and eight on defense. Among the returnees are Owen Burnside (6-2, 200), Jack Brundage (5-10, 200), Owen Hernandez (5-11, 291) and Mason Wolfe (6-1, 180), who were all-league first team last season. It’s always good to have an experienced senior at quarterback and the Titans have one. Gavin Shaigineik (6-0, 180) shared time at the position last season and was Tesoro’s leading passer yardage-wise with 1,026 yards. Wolfe had a team-high 32 receptions last season. How improved the Titans will be should be discovered early; six of their seven nonleague opponents were playoff teams last season. While it looks like Tesoro is the fourth-best team in a very challenging four-team league, this could be a program on the rise.

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