South Coast League Preview: Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For years, the South Coast League has arguably been the best public school league in Orange County high school football. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year, the league is loaded with talented teams and players. There is a real chance that all four teams make the playoffs and have winning seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at the teams in the South Coast League with a little prediction at the end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CAPISTRANO VALLEY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top players: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='45038' first='Dane' last='Benedix'], WR/DB, Sr.; Jack Culver, DB, Sr.; Gavin Disbro, OL/DL, So.; Dylan Fingersh, K, Jr.; [player_tooltip player_id='261786' first='Trey' last='Kukuk'], QB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='147764' first='Jackson' last='Sievers'], LB, Jr.; Riley Walker, So., LB.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>Capo Valley moves up into the South Coast League after sharing the Sea View League championship last season. Offensively, Capo Valley may be able to hang with anybody in the county. [player_tooltip player_id='261786' first='Trey' last='Kukuk'] is a top five senior quarterback in the county and [player_tooltip player_id='45038' first='Dane' last='Benedix'] is a real Division 1 caliber athlete in my opinion. The Cougars gave up a ton of points on defense last season but they return some linebackers and defensive backs which is helpful. I worry that Capo is too young and inexperienced on the offensive line to play against the big teams in this league like Mission Viejo and San Clemente. Capo only has three returning starters on offense and three on defense so it's a bad time for them to take such a leap in level of competition. They will not be a top two team in the league so they will have to put together some nonleague wins to get over .500 and qualify for the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ocvarsity/status/1451993872465219585?s=20u0026t=58yuidzf7sbs9tgt7rAleg","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ocvarsity/status/1451993872465219585?s=20&amp;t=58yuidzf7sbs9tgt7rAleg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MISSION VIEJO</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top players: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='384830' first='Michael' last='Damato'], DB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='190360' first='Jackson' last='Holman'], WR, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='25408' first='Mikey' last='Matthews'], WR, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='195570' first='Jack' last='Matranga'], LB, Jr.; [player_tooltip player_id='384806' first='Brady' last='Norton'], OL, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='261773' first='KJ' last='Reed'], WR, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='25441' first='Kadin' last='Semonza'], QB, Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> Mission Viejo coach <strong>Chad Johnson </strong>has told multiple reporters, including me that this is the best team he has had since arriving at the school. They won two of the three biggest passing tournaments of the summer and [player_tooltip player_id='25441' first='Kadin' last='Semonza'] has been the breakout quarterback of the offseason. They have multiple Division 1 caliber receivers and their top players list didn't even include Colorado commit [player_tooltip player_id='261722' first='Edward' last='Schultz'] and senior <strong>Andrez Lewis</strong>. They have a great secondary led by [player_tooltip player_id='384830' first='Michael' last='Damato'] and [player_tooltip player_id='398456' first='Trey' last='Tolmaire']. <strong>Carter Boskovich</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='310030' first='Joseph' last='Libutti'] are sneaky good players back there who do not get a lot of recognition. [player_tooltip player_id='195570' first='Jack' last='Matranga'] and [player_tooltip player_id='261806' first='Jonathan' last='Becerra'] are really good defenders in the box as well. I have concerns about the offensive line, but [player_tooltip player_id='384806' first='Brady' last='Norton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='195576' first='Mark' last='Schroller'] are very good tackles on the outside. The schedule is very difficult with teams like Servite, Long Beach Poly, Sierra Canyon and Alemany but they went 9-1 last season and got a Division 1 playoff spot and you can expect the same this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/GregBiggins/status/1548409774361874434?s=20u0026t=58yuidzf7sbs9tgt7rAleg","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/GregBiggins/status/1548409774361874434?s=20&amp;t=58yuidzf7sbs9tgt7rAleg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SAN CLEMENTE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top players: </strong>Blake Allen, RB/DB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='398387' first='Connor' last='Bachhuber'], DE, Jr.; [player_tooltip player_id='270893' first='Colin' last='Brophy'], OL, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='168733' first='Brad' last='Gerken'], DB, Sr.; Brock Della Vedova, WR/TE, Jr.; Thomas Hartanov, WR, Sr.; Ryder Insley, Sr., DB; Cole Robertson, LB, Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>San Clemente is senior heavy this season and returns a plethora of All-League players. The defense is loaded with physical and speedy linebackers and defensive backs like [player_tooltip player_id='168733' first='Brad' last='Gerken'], <strong>Cole Robertson</strong>, <strong>Blake Allen</strong>, <strong>Ryder Insley</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='398445' first='Drew' last='Shanley']</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='270910' first='Kyle' last='Yamano']. [player_tooltip player_id='398387' first='Connor' last='Bachhuber'] is a big defensive end with long arms and will be tough for tackles to handle one-on-one. The Tritons have played their quarterback competition pretty close to the vest but it seems like it's down to JSerra transfer [player_tooltip player_id='273584' first='Dylan' last='Mills'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='195580' first='Broderick' last='Redden']. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='224199' first='Jake' last='Poole'] </strong>and [player_tooltip player_id='196026' first='Reid' last='Kotiranta'] are sneaky good receivers who had productive offseasons. Kicker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='343530' first='Shane' last='Hill']</strong> is very good when the Tritons get into scoring position too. The schedule has a couple of tough games in the middle with Corona del Mar and Edison but the San Diego teams they play this year are down and shouldn't be a problem. With this many seniors, this is the year San Clemente can make a Division 2 playoff run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JonathanKhamis/status/1556656071829164032?s=20u0026t=58yuidzf7sbs9tgt7rAleg","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JonathanKhamis/status/1556656071829164032?s=20&amp;t=58yuidzf7sbs9tgt7rAleg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TESORO</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top players: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='270888' first='Owen' last='Burnside'], DL/TE, Sr.; Jack Brundage, Sr, LB; Owen Hernandez, OL, Sr.; Demarco Love, DB, Sr.; Todd Nelson, WR, Jr.; [player_tooltip player_id='270854' first='Mason' last='Wolfe'], WR, Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> Tesoro had a rough season in 2021 but had a couple of close losses that should have gone their way. They have a lot of returners despite losing their best player to transfer and star linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='270862' first='JAKE' last='FREY'] to a possible season-ending leg injury. Tesoro typically has at least one good edge rusher and [player_tooltip player_id='270888' first='Owen' last='Burnside'] is one of the best in the league this season. One of their defensive coaches raved to be about <strong>Jack Brundage</strong> as a player and a leader of the defense. They have a quarterback trio of [player_tooltip player_id='190350' first='Gavin' last='Shaigineik'], [player_tooltip player_id='169106' first='Evan' last='Pierce'] and <strong>Kaden Watanabe</strong>. My guess is Shaigineik is the starter and we see Pierce as a slot guy who they use in trick plays to throw the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='270854' first='Mason' last='Wolfe'] has the potential to be an 800-yard, 8 touchdown guy this season and <strong>Todd Nelson</strong> is a junior receiver I am really high on. The Frey injury concerns me, but I am higher on Tesoro than a lot of media members (see below). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/TesoroFootball/status/1548018389628506114?s=20u0026t=58yuidzf7sbs9tgt7rAleg","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TesoroFootball/status/1548018389628506114?s=20&amp;t=58yuidzf7sbs9tgt7rAleg </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Predicted league standings:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mission Viejo (10-0, 3-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>San Clemente (8-2, 2-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tesoro (5-5, 1-2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Capo Valley (5-5, 0-3)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->