Sunset League Preview: Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top of the Sunset League is as good as any high school football league in the state of California. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year the league is loaded with Division 1 caliber talent and even the teams at the bottom of the league have improved.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at the teams and players in the Sunset League.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CORONA DEL MAR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top players: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='145236' first='David' last='Rasor'], QB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='383956' first='Cooper' last='Hoch'], WR, Sr.; Evan Sanders, RB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='145264' first='Mason' last='Kubichek'], LB, Sr.; Trent Merriman, TE, Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>Corona del Mar graduated some key players but they return the second best quarterback in the league in [player_tooltip player_id='145236' first='David' last='Rasor']. Rasor threw for almost 2,400 yards and 34 TDs last season and is committed to UC Davis. [player_tooltip player_id='383956' first='Cooper' last='Hoch'] had a breakout summer making positive impressions at the Battle at the Beach passing tournament and the Corona del Mar tournament. He is 6-foot-3 with track speed and should be getting some offers soon. <strong>Evan Sanders</strong> is a quality running back who can run between the tackles and make plays in the passing game. The Sea Kings always have quality tight ends and <strong>Trent Merriman</strong> fills in that role this year. This is not the strongest offensive line that the Sea Kings have had in recent years, although <strong>Chase Horton</strong> is very good. The trenches are cause for concern for Corona del Mar but with Rasor under center, they can compete with anyone they play against.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/cooper_hoch/status/1546340372296503301?s=20u0026t=fKFPlYrxxIwbCrEwT6r6hA","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/cooper_hoch/status/1546340372296503301?s=20&amp;t=fKFPlYrxxIwbCrEwT6r6hA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EDISON</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top players:</strong> Parker Awad, QB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='383957' first='Nathan' last='Gates'], OT, Sr.; Tucker Tripp, WR, Sr.; Malachi Pierce, CB/WR, Sr.; Makai Sagiao, OL/DL, Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> Edison is kind of the opposite of Corona del Mar in that its strength is the offensive line. [player_tooltip player_id='383957' first='Nathan' last='Gates'] is a very good lineman with offers from Utah State, Northern Arizona, Fresno State and San Jose State among others. <strong>Makai Sagiao</strong> is a big transfer from Newport Harbor who can play both ways. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='270880' first='Luke' last='Jones']</strong> and <strong>Zach Gruwell</strong> are two more linemen that the coaching staff is high on. They will be protecting returning quarterback <strong>Parker Awad</strong> who completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,166 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions last season after transferring from Mater Dei. The receiving corps has some lengthy athletes in <strong>Tucker Tripp</strong>, <strong>Malachi Pierce</strong> and <strong>Mason York.</strong> <strong>Logan Gregory</strong> is a very good linebacker that will lead the defense. Edison will need to have some unproven players step up if they plan on contending for a league championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/EdisonChargerFB/status/1554485016054210560?s=20u0026t=fKFPlYrxxIwbCrEwT6r6hA","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/EdisonChargerFB/status/1554485016054210560?s=20&amp;t=fKFPlYrxxIwbCrEwT6r6hA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FOUNTAIN VALLEY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top players: </strong>Caine Elroy, LB/RB, Sr.; Ben Pham, LB/RB, Sr.; Abdel Habibeh, RB/SS, Sr.; Scott Peshke, TE/LB, Sr.; Michael Rocha, DL, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='270362' first='Matthew' last='Mena'], OL, Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook:</strong> Fountain Valley really struggled last season but they made a head coaching change just three weeks before the season started. <strong>Ben Pham</strong> and <strong>Abdel Habibeh</strong> were the team's two leading rushers last season and will play both ways this season. <strong>Scott Peshke</strong> is a big tight end who has been active on the college camp circuit. [player_tooltip player_id='270362' first='Matthew' last='Mena'] was a top three offensive lineman at the Prep Redzone Stock Up Showcase in January and trains with a group of very good offensive line coaches in the area. Fountain Valley may have a quarterback controversy on its hands with senior <strong>Owen Tomko</strong> and junior <strong>Noa Banua</strong>. The Barons still may be the worst team in this league, but they are much improved from last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Sunset_Rewind/status/1550872383078027264?s=20u0026t=fKFPlYrxxIwbCrEwT6r6hA","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/Sunset_Rewind/status/1550872383078027264?s=20&amp;t=fKFPlYrxxIwbCrEwT6r6hA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HUNTINGTON BEACH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top players: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='273679' first='Justin' last='Tauanuu'], OL, Jr.; AJ Vandermade, WR/FS, Sr.; Daunte Bell, QB, Sr.; Nathan Tauanuu, RB/TE/LB, Sr.; Jaxson Brown, LB/RB, Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>Huntington Beach also has a quarterback controversy between senior <strong>Vaughn Popp</strong> and Katella transfer <strong>Daunte Bell</strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='273679' first='Justin' last='Tauanuu'] is one of the top offensive lineman in the county with 10 offers including multiple Pac 12 schools. <strong>AJ Vandermade</strong> is back at receiver after only playing four games last season and is expected to play defense as well. <strong>Nathan Tauanuu</strong> leads all returning players in tackles and can be a top defensive player in the league. The Oilers had a few close losses last season that could have gone their way but they lost some key players to graduation and transfer so it may be another tough season at Huntington Beach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/HBHSFootball/status/1556058854051307520?s=20u0026t=fKFPlYrxxIwbCrEwT6r6hA","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/HBHSFootball/status/1556058854051307520?s=20&amp;t=fKFPlYrxxIwbCrEwT6r6hA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LOS ALAMITOS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top players: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='25419' first='Malachi' last='Nelson'], QB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='25398' first='Makai' last='Lemon'], WR/CB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='145170' first='Ethan' last='O'Connor'], WR/CB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='398382' first='T.A.' last='Cunningham'], DE, Jr.; [player_tooltip player_id='25362' first='Sinn' last='Brennan'], DE/TE, Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>This senior class at Los Alamitos has been hyped up for years and they are finally seniors. The Griffins are the clear favorites due to USC commit [player_tooltip player_id='25419' first='Malachi' last='Nelson'] at quarterback and a good receiving corps led by fellow USC commit [player_tooltip player_id='25398' first='Makai' last='Lemon']. [player_tooltip player_id='145170' first='Ethan' last='O'Connor'], [player_tooltip player_id='145234' first='Gavin' last='Porch'] and Mater Dei transfer [player_tooltip player_id='25357' first='Kassius' last='Ashtiani'] are quality receivers as well. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='384703' first='Damian' last='Henderson'], a transfer from Long Beach Jordan is a great late addition for the offense. Los Alamitos lost a few major pieces to transfer late this offseason but added the top class of 2024 prospect in the state in defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='398382' first='T.A.' last='Cunningham']. Cunningham and [player_tooltip player_id='25362' first='Sinn' last='Brennan'] are a deadly pass rushing duo on the defensive front and will cause matchup nightmares for opponents. They added linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='145202' first='Nehemiah' last='Sagiao'] from St. John Bosco who has offers from Fresno State and Cal. Los Alamitos is the team to beat in this league and a top two public school team in the county.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/LosAlFootball/status/1554541717507846144?s=20u0026t=fKFPlYrxxIwbCrEwT6r6hA","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/LosAlFootball/status/1554541717507846144?s=20&amp;t=fKFPlYrxxIwbCrEwT6r6hA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NEWPORT HARBOR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top players: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='145263' first='Kashton' last='Henjum'], WR, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='384765' first='Colton' last='Joseph'], QB, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='148989' first='Carson' last='De Avila'], S, Sr.; [player_tooltip player_id='147761' first='Josiah' last='Lamarque'], WR., Jr.; [player_tooltip player_id='147752' first='Jacob' last='Carlon'], LB, Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook: </strong>Newport Harbor won the Division 6 championship last season and has a new-look offense led by San Juan Hills transfer quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='384765' first='Colton' last='Joseph']</strong> and offensive coordinator <strong>Wes Choate.</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='145263' first='Kashton' last='Henjum'] and [player_tooltip player_id='147761' first='Josiah' last='Lamarque'] are two outstanding receivers for Joseph to rely on and Lamarque can play defense as well. Henjum had an incredible 108 receptions for 1,551 yards and 15 TDs while Lamarque nearly had 1,000 yards receiving as well. [player_tooltip player_id='148989' first='Carson' last='De Avila'] led Orange County in tackles last season and is back this season with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='147752' first='Jacob' last='Carlon']</strong> to help out. Newport Harbor's skill players can play with anyone in this league, but unfortunately Edison and Los Alamitos will be a lot to handle for the Sailor's offensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/_ColtonJoseph1/status/1556700252425502720?s=20u0026t=fKFPlYrxxIwbCrEwT6r6hA","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/_ColtonJoseph1/status/1556700252425502720?s=20&amp;t=fKFPlYrxxIwbCrEwT6r6hA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->