Thursday’s Games: Southern Section Players to Watch

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>MAYFAIR VS. YORBA LINDA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yorba Linda announced that junior quarterback <strong>Noah Trujillo</strong> will start Thursday against Mayfair but said [player_tooltip player_id='1679127' first='Colin' last='O'Connor'] may also get some snaps at quarterback. [player_tooltip player_id='1293191' first='Troy' last='Roberts'] figures to be the top receiver for the Mustangs and <strong>Vaughn Sharp</strong> will be the starting running back. Yorba Linda has three returning stars on defense: defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1857030' first='Thomas' last='Knutson']</strong>, linebacker <strong>Onassis Lim</strong> and defensive lineman <strong>Blake Thorp</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It&#039;s getting real! Sharing some footage from our scrimmage/ inter-squad work. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hot150?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hot150</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uncommited?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uncommited</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/srnszn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#srnszn</a> <a href="https://t.co/hZQMxKMYn6">pic.twitter.com/hZQMxKMYn6</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1857030' first='Thomas' last='Knutson'] (@thomas_knutson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/thomas_knutson_/status/1957158129214558451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>UC Davis commit [player_tooltip player_id='1000938' first='Chaz' last='Gilbreath'] is a three-year starter and leads the receiving corps. Sophomore quarterback <strong>Elijah Quinonez</strong> may be the starting quarterback and junior running back <strong>Jeromy Powell</strong> will be the top rusher. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Got some work against Fullerton and La Serna. <a href="https://twitter.com/derekbedell17?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@derekbedell17</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SoonsFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SoonsFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/J_Calvin17?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@J_Calvin17</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DerekBedell_28?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DerekBedell_28</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SouthrnCal71?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SouthrnCal71</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamZig?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TeamZig</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachReneMedina?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachReneMedina</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OLCoachCam?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OLCoachCam</a> <a href="https://t.co/iIPrBB4Wqp">pic.twitter.com/iIPrBB4Wqp</a></p>&mdash; Elijah “OCHO” Quinonez (@ElijahQuinonez8) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElijahQuinonez8/status/1936182839961366936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>ALISO NIGUEL VS. BECKMAN</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aliso Niguel has a returning quarterback in [player_tooltip player_id='797092' first='Carter' last='Vestermark'] and a speedy receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1602212' first='Dane' last='Malloy']. <strong>Carson Etnire</strong>, <strong>Kaleo Elam</strong> and <strong>Brody Blasing</strong> are other receivers to watch for the Wolverines. [player_tooltip player_id='1149000' first='Brady' last='Defrain'] may get the lion's share of the carries at running back and 6-foot-6 tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1604905' first='Finley' last='Torrico'] has been racking up offers this offseason. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/ocvarsityguy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ocvarsityguy</a> for putting me on OCs 150 top impact football players for 2025!<a href="https://twitter.com/aliso_football?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@aliso_football</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachcalahan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachcalahan</a> <a href="https://t.co/TBtSGeYsHG">https://t.co/TBtSGeYsHG</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1604905' first='Finley' last='Torrico'] (@fin_torrico) <a href="https://twitter.com/fin_torrico/status/1953149490468360452?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The headliner for Beckman is returning quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1643998' first='Noah' last='Nam'] who was the MVP of the Prep Redzone Combine Series in May. He throws a great ball and is one of the top 10 senior quarterbacks in Orange County. Beckman also returns the League Offensive Player of the Year in <strong>Makhi Czaykowski</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you so much for the write up <a href="https://twitter.com/mikehuntley63?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mikehuntley63</a>! Excited for this season to start and super thankful for the opportunity! <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneCA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneCA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PGregorian?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PGregorian</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ocvarsityguy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ocvarsityguy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GregBiggins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregBiggins</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonHuffman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrandonHuffman</a> <a href="https://t.co/HOiExd9AOB">pic.twitter.com/HOiExd9AOB</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1643998' first='Noah' last='Nam'] (@NoahNam3) <a href="https://twitter.com/NoahNam3/status/1950659460588011750?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>NEWPORT HARBOR VS. MURRIETA MESA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1742014' first='Jake' last='Meer']</strong> will be the starting quarterback for Newport Harbor and is a guy the coaching staff is very high on. The Sailors return three quality starters on the offensive line: <strong>Jagger Denoon</strong>, <strong>Christopher Foster</strong> and <strong>Emiliano Torres</strong>. The defense has more new faces, but [player_tooltip player_id='1576842' first='Glenn' last='Baranoski'] is one of the top 10 senior linebackers in the county.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We Ready! <a href="https://t.co/gHEMu21GGU">https://t.co/gHEMu21GGU</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1742014' first='Jake' last='Meer'] (@jake_meer4) <a href="https://twitter.com/jake_meer4/status/1957549938050839016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Murrieta Mesa won a CIF championship last season but lost a lot of key players. <strong>Dezmun Franklin</strong> is back at receiver and was All-League last season. <strong>Collin Vitte </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1642293' first='Jacob' last='Escalera']</strong> are two linemen who were All-League last season. The defense is a bit more experienced with returning All-League defensive backs <strong>Daniel Ritchie</strong> and <strong>Jesse Whilhite</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1646458' first='Noah' last='Jenkins']</strong> was an All-League defensive lineman last season and [player_tooltip player_id='1593093' first='Cody' last='Morin'] had a great offseason on the camp circuit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">3⭐️ doin 3 ⭐️ things… 🤷🏾‍♂️ <a href="https://t.co/5cDqqojJ8Q">https://t.co/5cDqqojJ8Q</a></p>&mdash; Murrieta Mesa Rams Football (@RamsFootball951) <a href="https://twitter.com/RamsFootball951/status/1957289231283581389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SALESIAN VS. WESTERN</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The headliner for Salesian is Sacramento State committed quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1663554' first='Donovan' last='Shirley']. <strong>JAnthony Cobb</strong> and <strong>James Spicer Jr</strong>. are receivers to keep an eye on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Me and the quarterback <a href="https://twitter.com/dshirl08?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dshirl08</a> connecting for a touchdown in the 3rd &amp; Long Spring League tournament. <a href="https://twitter.com/SalesianFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SalesianFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FootballKingpin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FootballKingpin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBurke10?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachBurke10</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachClarkJ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachClarkJ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMiller_FB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachMiller_FB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottieGraham?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScottieGraham</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HaganDaria39025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HaganDaria39025</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachSwanson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachSwanson</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachHayward?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachHayward</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachNolanGivan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachNolanGivan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachT_82?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachT_82</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Qoach_Deuce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Qoach_Deuce</a> <a href="https://t.co/QZ5u0rGnpV">pic.twitter.com/QZ5u0rGnpV</a></p>&mdash; JAnthony Cobb (@20reason_) <a href="https://twitter.com/20reason_/status/1919571605438759028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Western is loaded with talent at the offensive skill positions. [player_tooltip player_id='1197380' first='Chance' last='Thomas'] is back at quarterback with over 20 offers and Western added UNLV committed running back [player_tooltip player_id='212234' first='Skylar' last='Lendsey'] who previously played at Warren and Santa Margarita. Fresno State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1361628' first='Max' last='Young'] will lead the receiving corps along with <strong>Ose Ensogebe</strong>. The defense has more unproven players but returning linebacker <strong>Jacob Taylor</strong> was All-League last season and they added Cal commit [player_tooltip player_id='1361623' first='Ernest' last='Nunley'] at cornerback. Nunley was my top performing defensive back at the National Preps Showcase. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Big off season…8/21‼️<a href="https://twitter.com/westernpioneer1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@westernpioneer1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDavidsonWH?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDavidsonWH</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FrampCamp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FrampCamp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OrtegeJenkins16?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OrtegeJenkins16</a> <a href="https://t.co/kzksslIwhb">pic.twitter.com/kzksslIwhb</a></p>&mdash; Jacob Taylor (@JacobTaylor126) <a href="https://twitter.com/JacobTaylor126/status/1953466808658186641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->