The top players and season outlook for all seven teams in the Orange Coast League:
ORANGE COAST LEAGUE
CALVARY CHAPEL
Top players: Matt Peters, QB, So.; Nathan Nieves, OL, Jr.; Jackson Pellkofer, DB, So.; Pops Soto, OL, So.; Charles Sparks, RB/WR, So.
What to expect: Jack McInally has taken over as head coach. He replaces his father Pat McInally. Jack was an assistant at Calvary Chapel after coaching at Golden West College and Long Beach Poly. The Eagles return three starters on offense and six on defense from a team that was 6-4 overall last season and finished fourth in the Orange Coast League. Peters, all-league second team last season, is a mobile quarterback and Sparks is a productive running back, giving Calvary Chapel a formidable ground game. They are sophomores, as are other skill-position players, so the best days for Calvary Chapel might be a year or two away.
COSTA MESA
Top players: Marley Boynton, WR/DB, Jr.; David Calix, OL/DL, Sr.; Brett McDonough, RB/DB, Jr.; Garrett Richards, QB, Sr.; Max Schultz, OL/LB, Sr.; Ethan Smithlin, DB/K, Sr.; Riley Weinstein, TE/LB, Sr.
What to expect: Coach Gary Gonzalez is an on-campus teacher, making him the first on-campus football head coach at Costa Mesa in a few years.The Mustangs were 5-6 overall last season and finished third in league at 2-3. They bring back six starters on offense and six on defense. Costa Mesa’s passing game should be good, with senior Garrett Richards at quarterback. Receiver Riley Weinstein (6-7, 215) was all-league first team in 2021. Gonzalez has confidence in the Mustangs’ offensive line. This is not a deep team, so injuries must be avoided.
ESTANCIA
Top players: Noah Aires, RB/LB, Sr.; Asa Davis, WR/DB, Sr.; Oswaldo Sanchez, TE/LB, Sr.; August Stanton, RB/DL, Sr.; Oscar Vasquez, QB, Sr.
What to expect: The Eagles bring back four starters on offense and five on defense. Among the returnees is Oswaldo Sanchez (5-11, 200) who was an All-Orange Coast League first team linebacker in 2021. Running back Noah Aires was all-league first team last season. Estancia did not throw the ball much last season. Coach Mike Bargas, in his 16th season in charge of Estancia football, said the offensive style will change this season with QB Oscar Vasquez, who can run and throw equally well. Estancia was 5-6 overall last season and lost its final five games, including a one-touchdown playoff loss to San Bernardino.
Orange High’s Jonathan Smith, left, scores a touchdown against Yorba Linda High in Yorba Linda on Thursday, September 2, 2021. (Photo by Michael Kitada, for the Orange County Register/SCNG)
ORANGE
Top players: Kobe Boykin, RB, Jr.; Jakob Coleman, DB, So.; Khalil Lawrence, OL/DL, Sr.; Jaelen Lightfoot, DB, Sr.; Ardwon Morris, LB, Jr.; Jonathan Smith, WR, Sr.; Arron Jett White, WR/DB, So.
What to expect: The Panthers went 5-0 to win the league championship last season and are favored to repeat. Robert Pedroza, in his eighth season coaching Orange, welcomes back seven starters on offense and six on defense. The showcase player is Kobe Boykin (5-9, 170), who committed to Utah and is No. 14 in the Register’s Hot 150 ranking of Orange County football players. Jett White (6-3, 175), a sophomore cornerback who also plays receiver, committed to USC. White is No. 77 in the Hot 150. Receiver Jonathan Smith (6-3, 185) will be a handy target for freshman quarterback Oscar Rios (6-2, 175).
SADDLEBACK
Top players: Alan Avalos, OL/DL, So.; Donovan Castellanos, QB/DB, Sr.; Ellion Lemon, WR/DB, So.; Luis Lopez, LB/WR, Jr.; Eddie Sanchez, OLB/WR, Jr.; Anthony Suarez, OL/DL, Sr.; Joey Wilson, WR/DB, Sr.
What to expect: The rebuilding project continues for third-year coach Glen Campbell, a Saddleback alum who was a great running back for the Roadrunners in the 1980s. The program contains many players who had little or no experience playing football before high school. Campbell sees signs of growth for the team that last season finished 3-7 overall and 0-5 in league. Many players must play multiple positions. Campbell is expecting Donovan Castellanos and Ellion Lemon to play well. Senior lineman Anthony Suarez was all-league second team last season.
Santa Ana QB Sergio Torres is wrapped up by Millikan’s Shea Robertson in a nonleague football game at Millikan high Friday, August 20, 2021 in Long Beach.(Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
SANTA ANA
Top players: Peleitala Fa’aloua, DL, Sr.; Adrian Bahena, OL, Sr.; Michael Hughes, DL, Sr.; Steven Hughes, RB/DB, Sr.; Kevin Osorio, LB, Sr.; Jose Martinez, OL/DL, Sr.; Sergio Torres, QB, Jr.
What to expect: The Saints have the league’s best returning quarterback, Sergio Torres (6-2, 182), who was all-league first team last season. He is No. 137 on the Hot 150 list. Torres is among five returning starters on offense. Santa Ana’s defense has five returning starters. Michael Hughes (6-2, 235) won awards at various lineman camps this summer. He leads what ninth-year coach Charlie TeGantvoort calls an outstanding group of linemen. It has been Orange vs. Santa Ana for the league championship in recent years. It will Orange vs. Santa Ana on Oct. 28 at Santa Ana Stadium in a game that should decide the league championship this season.
St. Margaret’s Derek Smith runs the ball for a first down against Colony during the CIF Southern Section Division 9 championships in Ontario on Friday, November 26, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
ST. MARGARET’S
Top players: Cooper Devries, OL/DL, Jr.; Samuel Dunnell, WR/DB, Sr.; Jerry Gao, OL/DL, Jr.; Battle Gideons, RB/LB, Jr.; Brandon Miller, RB/LB, Jr.; Max Ruff, QB, Jr.; Derek Smith, WR/DB, Sr.
Related Articles
Orange County Football Preview 2022: OCVarsity’s preseason stories, rankings, updates
Pacific Coast League football preview: What to expect this season
North Hills League football preview: What to expect this season
Crestview League football preview: What to expect this season
Trinity League football preview: What to expect this season
What to expect: Orange County league restructuring for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years placed St. Margaret’s in the Orange Coast League. St. Margaret’s last season was 9-5 and advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division 9 championship game. Former Notre Dame and NFL player Kory Minor is in his sixth season coaching St. Margaret’s, which has only six returning starters. Minor said the new starters are of high quality. One of the returnees is speedy senior receiver/defensive back Derek Smith who last season had 43 receptions for 627 yards and 11 touchdowns. Samuel Dunnell (6-4, 200) is No. 133 on the Hot 150. If a team is to disrupt the Orange-Santa Ana domination in the Orange Coast League, this might be that team.