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

CRESTVIEW LEAGUE

BREA OLINDA

Top players: Jeremiah Dafney, WR/DB, Sr.; Braden Esparza, OL/DL, Sr.; Drew Jensen, OL, Sr.; Roman Meraz, TE/LB, Sr.; Josh Pai, DL, Sr.; Axl Rodriguez, WR, Sr.

What to expect: The Wildcats have a new coach, Jae Kim, 43, who was the coach at Don Lugo last season and is a Brea alum. Brea last season finished in a three-way tie for first place in the North Hills League and finished 5-4 overall. They move up to the Crestview League this season. Roman Meraz (6-3, 225) was all-league first team last season when he had a team-high 40 receptions. He is among an experienced group of receivers. The Wildcats defense will have many new players, including many sophomores. This season might be a struggle.

Foothill running back Aaron Mitchell, center, avoids a tackle by Tustin cornerback Armon Fuller, right, and gets by Mickey Chinchilla on his way to scoring a touchdown in Tustin on Friday, August 27, 2021. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

FOOTHILL

Top players: Ethan Charpentier, LB, Sr.; Reed Fergus, OL, Sr.; Nick Miali, QB, Jr.; Aaron Mitchell, RB, Jr.; Tyler Hawkins, WR, Jr.; Drew Nagler, DB, Sr.; Jairo Rios, OL/DL, Sr.

What to expect: The Knights lost an abundance of talent from last year’s team that went 10-2 overall and 2-1 in league. They return only three starters on offense and one on defense, but Coach Doug Case, in his 23rd season coaching Foothill, likes the many juniors who will fill positions. They include quarterback Nick Miali, receivers Tyler Hawkins, Connor Pietras and Jack Zerkel and running back Aaron Mitchell, who was Foothill’s second-leading rusher last season with 345 yards. Ethan Charpentier was All-Crestview League first team in 2021 when he averaged 11 tackles a game. He is No. 65 on the Register’s Hot 150 ranking of Orange County football players. Depth is limited along the offensive and defensive lines so it is essential for Foothill to stay healthy there.

Villa Park running back Carter Christie (13) runs the ball against  Orange at El Modena High School’s Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange on Thursday, August 26th, 2021. (Photo by Michael Ares, Contributing Photographer)

VILLA PARK

Top players: Oliver Aguilar, OL, Sr.; Zach Alefosio, OL, Sr.; Zach Brown, TE, Sr.; Seth Cassara, WR, Jr.; Carter Christie, RB/LB, Jr.; Canyon Dietrich,DL, Sr.; Carson Ridge, RB, Sr.

What to expect: The Spartans return seven starters on offense and most of those are on the offensive line. That’s a good place to have returning starters. Among them is Zach Alefosio (5-11, 247) who comes from a family that has produced Villa Park football standouts. Dusan Ancich, in his 13th season as Villa Park coach and is 109-29 at the school, is watching a battle for starting quarterback. The competitors there are junior Cooper Adams, who started three games last season, and sophomore Nate Lewis who looked good as a freshman before breaking an arm. Villa Park, which finished 7-4 overall last season and was second place in the Crestview League (1-2 league record), might start only eight seniors. The Spartans might be the top challenger to league favorite Yorba Linda this season; in 2023 it might be the other way around.

YORBA LINDA

Top players: Reyn Beal, QB, Sr.; JJ Conrad, WR, Sr.; Jason Escovar, RB/DB, Jr.; Dylan Gardner, WR, Jr.; Jayden Flaig, WR, Sr.; Wyatt Mosier, LB, Sr.; William Saucedo, RB, Sr.

What to expect: The Mustangs, with eight returning starters on offense and eight on defense, are the league favorites and could find themselves in the Orange County top 10 all season. Senior quarterback Reyn Beal (6-0, 200) was a Crestview League player of the year last season when he averaged 253 passing yards a game with 28 touchdowns. He is No. 16 in the Register’s Hot 150 ranking of county players. JJ Conrad led Yorba Linda in receptions last season with 54. Jeff Bailey, in his 13th season as Yorba Linda coach, anticipates a big season from running back William Saucedo who was the team’s second-leading rusher last season. Linebacker Wyatt Mosier (6-2, 220) was All-Orange County first team last season and was a league defensive player of the year. He is No. 27 on the Hot 150. Yorba Linda was 10-0 in the regular season a year ago, won the league championship and lost to Bishop Amat in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs. Two of the league wins were close ones, by three points over Foothill and by one over Villa Park. The Mustangs might win those game by large margins this season and could make a deep run in the playoffs.

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