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

NORTH HILLS LEAGUE

Fox Haugen (7) of Canyon runs into the end zone while being pursued by Ray Sanchez (20) of El Modena in a game at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange on Thursday, March 11, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

CANYON

Top players: Sean Artist, LB, Sr.; Thomas Cabral, DB/KR/PR; Fox Haugen, WR/DB, Sr.; Christian Lunsberg, QB, Sr.; Armando Medrano, OL, Sr.; Troy Mills, LB, Sr.; Kayvon Monfared, WR/DB/K, Sr.

What to expect: With eight returning starters on offense and seven on defense, the Comanches could be one of most improved teams in Orange County this season. They have a new coach, Phil Huges, 32, who coached the past eight seasons at Sunny Hills. Senior quarterback Christian Lundsberg (6-4, 205) was all-league first team last season when he averaged 282 yards a game and threw 27 touchdown passes in eight games. Lundsberg is No. 37 on the Register’s Hot 150 ranking of Orange County football players. Receiver Fox Haugen is the No. 59 player on the list. Haugen had 87 receptions last season for 1,002 yards and 18 touchdowns and was a North Hills League offensive player of the year. Running back/defensive back Kyle Krause, offensive lineman Armando Medrano and linebacker Troy Mills were all-league first team in 2021. Hughes said the pieces are in place, and learning how to finish games strong and win them needs to be conquered.

EL DORADO

Top players: Jake Bento, Sr., DB; Vincent Cabral, OL, Sr.; Christian Gabb, LB, Sr.; Bryce Ishiguro, OL, Sr.; Samuel Nunez, OL, Sr.; Isaiah Quintero, RB, Jr.; Gavin Rivera, WR, Sr.

What to expect: Last season was a good one for the Golden Hawks, who earned a piece of the North Hills League championship, went 8-4 overall and had a playoff win in CIF-SS Division 8. This season could be just as good or better. Zach LaMonda, in his eighth season as El Dorado coach, welcomes back nine returning starters on offense and six on defense. Among them is safety Jake Bento who was all-league first team last season when he made 98 tackles. Bento (6-0, 180) is No. 111 on the Hot 150. Isaiah Quintero (5-6, 145) was all-league first team last season when he rushed for 954 yards. Quintero was the Orange County boys wrestler of the year this past winter. Offensive guard Samuel Nunez was all-league first team in 2021. Depth could be an issue for El Dorado if injuries occur.

El Modena’s Owen Smith celebrates a touchdown against Sunny Hills in a nonleague football game at Buena Park High School Friday, Sept. 3, 2021.(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

EL MODENA

Top players: Sam Astor, WR, Sr.; Zander Chaffin, DB, Sr.; Esteban Choucair, DL, Sr.; Mayson Hitchens, LB, Sr.; Elishah Jackett, OL, Sr.; Anthony Lopez, OL, Sr.; Owen Smith, RB, Sr.

What to expect: El Modena has switched places with Brea Olinda by moving into the North Hills League while Brea went to the Crestview League. The Vanguards, with eight returning starters on offense and eight on defense, are the favorites to win the North Hills League. They went 0-3 in the Crestview League last season, qualified for the playoffs as an at-large team and reached the CIF-SS Division 5 semifinals. Owen Smith (5-9, 195) rushed for 855 yards last year. He is No. 57 on the Hot 150. Elishah Jackett (6-7, 275) committed to Washington and is No. 42 on the Hot 150. Sophomore quarterback Xzavior Guess (5-10, 160) played briefly last season. Matt Mitchell, in his seventh season as El Modena coach, said Guess made significant progress during the offseason. Defensive lineman Esteban Choucair and linebacker Mayson Hitchens were All-Crestview League first team last season. Hitchens is No. 70 on the Hot 150; Choucair, who had nine sacks in 2021, is No. 93 on the list. Mitchell expects the Vanguards to excel on the offensive and defensive lines. The secondary has new faces. Look for the Vanguards to go undefeated in the four-team North Hills League.

ESPERANZA

Top players: Jesse Duensing, RB/LB, Sr.; David Lua, QB, Jr.; Joseph Nelson, DB, Jr.; Luke Secoda, WR/LB, Sr.

What to expect: The Aztecs have a new coach, J.P. Presley, who previously was the head coach at Orange Lutheran. He has a rebuilding project going at Esperanza, which was 3-7 overall and 0-3 in the North Hills League last season. Esperanza has four returning starters on offense and four on defense. Jesse Duensing rushed for a team-high 591 yards last season. The quarterback will be junior David Lua (6-5, 200). Presley likes Lua’s potential, although Lua will be learning to play at the varsity level behind an inexperienced offensive line. The running backs and linebackers corps should be good this season. Esperanza is unlikely to finish in the top half of the four-team league’s standings.

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