Alpha League Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Alpha League is the top public school league in Orange County and arguably the top public school league in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In each the past two seasons, an Alpha League team won a state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at the teams in the Alpha League and a breakdown of which players to watch:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>MISSION VIEJO</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to watch: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283692' first='Vance' last='Spafford'], WR, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='1000890' first='Luke' last='Fahey'], QB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='283628' first='Jeron' last='Jones'], DB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='283589' first='Brady' last='Bowman'], LB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='1614528' first='JD' last='Hill'], DL, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='1621228' first='Jordan' last='Hicks'], DB., So.; <strong>Davonte Curtis</strong>, RB, Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>Mission Viejo lost some key seniors from last season and is still the team to beat in this league. Ohio State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1000890' first='Luke' last='Fahey'] is finally getting the chance to be the lone starting quarterback after splitting reps for two seasons. His receiving corps is led by Miami commit [player_tooltip player_id='283692' first='Vance' last='Spafford'] and some fast-rising faces like Santa Margarita transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1197564' first='Jack' last='Junker'], [player_tooltip player_id='1622362' first='Hayden' last='Koo'], [player_tooltip player_id='1344462' first='Max' last='Markofski'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1382575' first='Luke' last='Karby'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1197940' first='Kollin' last='Woodbury Jr']. The offensive line is a question mark by [player_tooltip player_id='1522528' first='Dylan' last='Felli'] is a promising junior. [player_tooltip player_id='283589' first='Brady' last='Bowman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1667624' first='Cash' last='Gervase'] lead the linebacking corps and the Diablos have two lock down corners in [player_tooltip player_id='283628' first='Jeron' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1621228' first='Jordan' last='Hicks']. [player_tooltip player_id='1062632' first='Zachary' last='Foeldi'] and <strong>Ryder Brown</strong> will be big contributors in the secondary as well. The Diablos are the team to beat in this league and convincingly won all three league games last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Polished on the field, in the huddle and on the mic ... Ohio State commit <a href="https://twitter.com/LukeFahey03?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LukeFahey03</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/missionfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@missionfootball</a> offers the complete package <a href="https://t.co/eCiD0dJb9m">pic.twitter.com/eCiD0dJb9m</a></p>&mdash; Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) <a href="https://twitter.com/ocvarsityguy/status/1944273640163508226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SAN CLEMENTE</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to watch: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='661909' first='Jaxson' last='Rex'], WR/DB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='1635539' first='Scott' last='Johnson'], OL, Sr.; <strong>Damian Martinez</strong>, LB, Sr.; <strong>Patrick Norman,</strong> LB, Sr.; <strong>Josh Kerst</strong>, DL, Sr.; <strong>Dallas Martinez</strong>, DB, Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>San Clemente was a bit of a mystery team heading into this offseason with not a lot of returning talent at the skill positions, but the Tritons raised some eyebrows by winning the Brave 8 Invitational passing tournament. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='661909' first='Jaxson' last='Rex']</strong> is one of the more underrated juniors in the area and has All-County potential this season. San Clemente has a tradition of excellent tight end play and <strong>Shane Kiley</strong> is a big tight end who could have a big year. Quarterback is a question mark with junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1758285' first='Eiler' last='King']</strong> and senior <strong>Luke Hardy</strong> still competing for the spot. Pass rush will be a strength for the Tritons with <strong>Josh Kerst</strong> returning after having 12 sacks last season and <strong>Patrick Norman</strong> back who earned All-League honors. <strong>Damian Martinez</strong> has a nose for the ball and had two interceptions against St. John Bosco in the finals of the Brave 8 Invitational. The Tritons always play good defense and will be tough to score on despite the really challenging schedule.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">College Coaches Take Notice<br><br>Impact player on both sides of the ball<br><br>CLASS OF 2027 <a href="https://t.co/UUh3u5e5t0">https://t.co/UUh3u5e5t0</a></p>&mdash; Triton Football (@Tritonfootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tritonfootball/status/1939751320283754676?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>LOS ALAMITOS</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to watch: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598356' first='Lenny' last='Ibarra'], RB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='1660469' first='Hunter' last='Eligon'], DL, Jr.; [player_tooltip player_id='1686058' first='Beckham' last='Hofland'], TE, Sr.; <strong>Jackson Renger</strong>, DE, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='1588186' first='Braiden' last='McKenna'], OL, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='1205414' first='Kamden' last='Tillis'], WR, Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>Los Alamitos has a lot of returning talent and is a strong contender for second place in this league. [player_tooltip player_id='1598356' first='Lenny' last='Ibarra'] is one of the top running backs in the county and [player_tooltip player_id='1205414' first='Kamden' last='Tillis'] may get some touches out of the backfield as well. Tillis really impressed me at the National Preps Showcase. Boise State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1686058' first='Beckham' last='Hofland'] is a big tight end target for new quarterback <strong>Colin Creason</strong>, who the coaching staff is high on. Los Alamitos will be able to get after the quarterback with one of the better edge rushers in the county, <strong>Jackson Renger</strong>, and rising defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1660469' first='Hunter' last='Eligon'] who was the MVP at the National Preps Showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">17 days <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonHuffman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrandonHuffman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ocvarsityguy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ocvarsityguy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OC_Recruits?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OC_Recruits</a> <a href="https://t.co/6FMTdxbmvQ">https://t.co/6FMTdxbmvQ</a></p>&mdash; Los Al Football (@LosAlFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/LosAlFootball/status/1950391905528971711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>EDISON</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1717984' first='Sam' last='Thomson']</strong>, QB, Jr.; <strong>Devyn Blake</strong>, OL/DL, Sr.; <strong>Ayden DeGiacomo,</strong> WR/DB, Jr.; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='618154' first='Nathan' last='Stevens']</strong>, OL/DL, Sr.; <strong>Will Harrison</strong>, DB/WR, Sr.; <strong>Maddox Thomas</strong>, DB, Sr.; <strong>Caden Lo</strong>, LB, Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>Edison went on an incredible late-season run and won a state championship last season and has some key players back. [player_tooltip player_id='1717984' first='Sam' last='Thomson'] had a breakout sophomore season at quarterback and is back along with top target <strong>Ayden DeGiacomo</strong>. Edison always has quality two-way linemen and <strong>Sam Edmisten</strong> filled in nicely at running back in the CIF championship game last season. The defense lost some important players but the Chargers are solid up front and have some experience back in the secondary with <strong>Will Harrison</strong> and <strong>Maddox Thomas</strong>. Edison opens the season with three winnable home games and has a chance to go 7-0 in nonleague play before a tough league slate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">21 more days until we play a football game<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/proudtobeacharger?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#proudtobeacharger</a> <a href="https://t.co/6kbGF6fIly">pic.twitter.com/6kbGF6fIly</a></p>&mdash; Edison Football ⚡️ (@EdisonChargerFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdisonChargerFB/status/1951408705112776887?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->