The fourth highest team from the Trinity League leads off this group of teams. Don’t worry, the other two teams aren’t far behind. This group also includes the preseason top teams to start the season in the CIF Central Coast Section and CIF Central Section. Another team in this group was only 4-8 last season, but it’s a school that has won more than one CIF state title and has benefitted from a coaching change at its rival school.
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11. SANTA MARGARITA (RANCHO SM)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 5-6, No. 21
First Game: Saturday, Aug. 24 vs Mission Viejo
There are a lot of different opinions about which team should be fourth to start the season coming out of the Trinity League, but the Eagles clearly are one of them and they are going to get to play No. 5 Mission Viejo right out of the gates in their first game.
In almost every game it plays, Santa Margarita will have the most versatile player on the field with Trent Mosley. Still a junior, he was the MVP of the Trinity League as a sophomore. Mosley had 81 catches for 1,282 yards and 11 TDs as a receiver and he rushed for 15 scores (mostly as a wildcat formation QB). The Eagles also have QB John Gazzaniga returning. He became the starter after a few games last season due to a transfer from Orange Lutheran. He passed for more than 200 yards in each of his last five games.
Other players that gained mention in our preseason All-Orange County teams were OL Elijah Vaikona, PK Ryan Gass, junior DB Logan Hirou, junior WRs Sean Embree and Jonah Smith and junior LB Ivrick Carrington.
After Mission Viejo, the team’s pre-Trinity League schedule also shows games against Corona Centennial and Oaks Christian.
12. SERRA (SAN MATEO)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 12-1, No. 5
First Game: Friday, Aug. 30 at Folsom
Even with all of the players that graduated after last season, the Padres still should be No. 1 in the CIF Central Coast Section and still among the top 15 in the state until proven otherwise based on results from games on the field.
You also really have to had it to head coach Patrick Walsh for continuing to schedule as tough as possible despite all the new players. It would be easy not to want to play Folsom, De La Salle and St. John Bosco to start the season, but the point is to win another CCS title and continue to win in the West Catholic Athletic League with both Archbishop Riordan and St. Francis coming back with a lot of returning standouts.
DB Jermaine Barrett is perhaps the top returnee as he led the team as a junior with two interceptions. Barrett also has committed to Air Force. OL Louis Akpa (6-6, 260) also has offers, including those recently from Wyoming and Fresno State.
The new QB is expected to be junior Andrew Heneghan, who can pass and run equally well. Serra also still has WR/DB Teddy Chung (6-0, 195), a Harvard commit. Upcoming soph WR/DB Malakai Taufoou is definitely one to watch along with junior OL/DL Tevita Heimuli (6-3, 265).
13. CLOVIS NORTH (FRESNO)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 13-1, No. 13
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 at San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno)
One of the toughest aspects of the Broncos’ laying an egg in their 40-0 loss to De La Salle in the CIF NorCal D1-AA championship is that it’s taking a long time to completely remove the scent of it by taking the field again. Despite that result, there is a strong group of returning players for head coach Mike Jacot that makes the team the preseason favorite in the CIF Central Section. We also are starting the Broncos one spot higher than the JSerra team of the Trinity League they beat last season.
When watching the team last year, the power running game of halfback Jackson Cinfel darting in holes created often by fullback McKay Madsen in front of him was what stood out the most. Cinfel is back after rushing for 1,904 yards and 17 touchdowns. Madsen rushed for 995 yards and 18 TDs himself and he had 69 tackles with three interceptions and two caused fumbles on defense. The CIF state track champ in the shot put and discus also was just named as our State Junior Athlete of the Year.
Jackson’s twin brother, Ross, who had eight sacks as a rush end on defense, is one of Clovis North’s other top returnees.
In addition to having to travel down to Orange County to play at JSerra this season, the Broncos also will be play Los Alamitos of Orange County at home.
14. JSERRA (SJ CAPISTRANO)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 5-6, No. 14.
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)
All of the Trinity League teams after Mater Dei, St. John Bosco and Orange Lutheran are going to be tough to beat by any opponents from outside of the league except for perhaps Centennial (Corona) or Sierra Canyon.
Head coach Victor Santa Cruz starts his second season at JSerra with a group that includes one of the state’s top linebackers, possibly one of the state’s top offensive lines and an up-and-coming junior quarterback. That LB is senior Madden Faraimo, who we first saw as a freshman starter at Cathedral Catholic of San Diego. He had all the tools even then. Madden is now a 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker with numerous D1 college offers. The offensive line includes three-year starter Jake Flores (Washington commit) along with Daniel Tuliau (San Diego State) and a junior, Niniva Nicholson, who is gaining D1 interest. The QB is junior Ryan Hopkins, who impressed in summer passing tournaments. If Hopkins and other offensive performers can come through, the Lions could be that one team that can take the fourth spot in the Trinity League.
15. SERRA (GARDENA)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 9-4, No. 22
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs Orange Lutheran
This 15th position to start the season is the same place the Cavaliers began to start last season. They also are playing teams early on that are in a similar situation (Long Beach Poly, Warren of Downey) so their ranking could change up or down a lot.
Head coach Scott Altenberg’s squad will have a top-level returnee at QB in three-year starter Jimmy Butler. In 13 games last season, Butler passed for 2,088 yards and 22 TDs and rushed for 379 yards and three scores. Butler also will now have senior Jadyn Robinson and sophomore Skylar Robinson running routes for him. The Robinsons come to Serra via Long Beach Poly, Santa Margarita and San Juan Hills and they are both looking to add to their college offers and have big seasons. WR Duvay Williams also is one to watch on offense.
Serra’s defense has a top returnee up front and on the back end. Junior DE Khary Wilder has an offer from USC among many after getting 14 sacks and 75 tackles last season. The secondary has senior DB Tre’ Harrison, who had an interception playing as a freshman in the 2021 CIF D1-A state final that Serra won against Liberty of Bakersfield. Harrison, who had 78 tackles and two interceptions last year, has committed to Cal.
16. OAKS CHRISTIAN (WESTLAKE VILLAGE)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 9-3, No. 25
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 at Chaminade (West Hills)
Two early games for the Lions against Sierra Canyon and Santa Margarita will show just where they stand among the state’s truly elite teams. They should stand up pretty well.
The offense has one of the most intriguing prospects in the state in junior Deshonne Redeaux. He is looking to have a big season after only playing six games as a sophomore due to a knee injury. Redeaux was the 2022-23 State Freshman Athlete of the Year for what he did in football and track. He is primarily a running back on offense. Also back on offense is QB Axel Eason, who was a part-time starter last season. Eason has committed to UC Davis. TE Stevie Amar is one of the best at his position as well. He has offers from Baylor, Cal and many others.
Oaks Christian’s defense features one of the top junior DBs in the nation with Davon Benjamin. At last check, he had 21 D1 college offers. Another generating a lot of D1 interest is 6-foot-1, 280-pound defensive tackle Joseph Peko. He has offers from Arizona, BYU and Louisville among others. DB Jamerey Smith (Washington State commit) is one of those athletes who could be used on offense in addition to defense.
17. OAK RIDGE (EL DORADO HILLS)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 10-3, No. 35.
First Game: Saturday, Aug. 25 vs Frontier (Bakersfield) at home
Head coach Casey Taylor’s guys gave Folsom all it could handle in last year’s CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D1 championship in a 34-27 loss and they are beginning this season slotted in the No. 2 spot in the preseason section rankings behind the Bulldogs. The schedule also sees them playing one of the top Central Section teams in the first game and then there will be a trip south to play San Clemente (team that got a win last season over Mission Viejo).
The leading player at Oak Ridge is All-American tight end Kaleb Edwards. We don’t often have a tight end specifically chosen for all-state first team, but if there was he’d be it. The 6-foot-7, 235-pound Grid-Hoop All-State First Team pick has committed to Alabama and he added 6.5 sacks on defense last season to the 44 catches for 828 yards and seven TDs he had on offense.
The Trojans also have the luxury of having a returning starter at QB in Joaquin Graves-Mercado. Leading rusher and scorer Erick Orme Jr. is back as well plus it will be fun to see what the coaches do with upcoming junior Jasen Womack. He’s was all-state as a sophomore DB with 86 tackles and two intercepions, but also can play running back, catch passes and return kicks. The defense also again has LB Braedon Mulgannon, a hard-hitter who was another leading tackler.
18. MURRIETA VALLEY (MURRIETA)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 9-4, No. 23.
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 at Rancho Cucamonga
Based on how they finished in 2023, this could arguably be too low of a ranking for the Nighthawks. In the CIFSS D2 playoffs, they avenged one of their losses with a wild-and-wacky 53-52 win over Rancho Cucamonga and then only lost by 31-21 to eventual CIF D1-AA state champ Mission Viejo. As has been the case in the Bachmeier family years at the school, the offense should be big-time but can the defense get enough stops.
QB Bear Bachmeier, committed to Stanford where he will join older brother Tiger, will be the ringleader of that offense for the third straight season. He had 2,613 yards passing and 631 yards rushing as a junior with 26 TD passes and 18 TD runs. The team’s top rusher from last season, Dorian Haze, also is back plus there’s a solid group of linemen blocking. The leader of that group is Michigan State-committed Drew Nichols. Camden Conner should be one of the top receivers and will be looking to continue to run back kickoffs for touchdowns (he had three last season). The top returnee on defense is bulky run stopper Gio Monge (290 pounds), who was first team All-Inland Empire as a junior.
19. RANCHO CUCAMONGA
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 10-2, No. 23.
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs. Murrieta Valley at home
Right behind Murrieta Valley we have the team that played the Nighthawks twice last season in two memorable matchups and is playing them again to start this season. In the first game, the Cougars won 34-27 but in a rematch in the CIFSS D2 playoffs it was a 53-52 win for Murrieta Valley.
While Murrieta Valley returns a lot on offense, Rancho returns a ton on defense. The secondary is one of the best in state, rivaling even Mater Dei and St. John Bosco. Junior R.J. Sermons is one of the top Class of 2026 corners in the nation and has run 10.48 seconds in the 100. Senior Tahj Crutchfield also has D1 offers while Andre Johnson, a junior transfer from Colony of Ontario, also is getting a lot of D1 attention. Another strength of the team is the offensive line with senior Terry Chambliss (6-6, 260) and junior Malik White (6-4, 310) leading the way.
The Rancho Christian program got a shock a few weeks ago when head coach Brian Hildebrand had to resign due to medical reasons. Former assistant Ofa Fifita is stepping into the position. We wish the best to Coach Hildebrand and his family.
20. ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN (SAN FRANCISCO)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 7-4, No.
First Game: Friday, Aug. 30 at McClymonds (Oakland)
Folks up north have always wondered if there would ever be a school that would try to do some of the same things that Mater Dei and St. John Bosco have done so well down south. Riordan is that school. The Crusaders now have a comparable lineup of D1 recruits on both sides of the ball so that calling them the most talented team in Northern California is not false. They just haven’t done anything that successful on the field yet to deserve being handed a ranking over fellow West Catholic Athletic League school Serra of San Mateo, which walloped the Crusaders last season, 53-7, and other schools like Folsom and De La Salle. Some would say No. 20 is too high, but we’ll find out for sure by Sept. 13 when the team travels to play at Pittsburg.
Having a super-sized offensive line is one part of the formula that the Crusaders have figured out. There may not be a better junior in the nation than 6-foot-7, 340-pound Tommy Tofi, who has been offered by more than 40 D1 colleges and all of the big ones. Senior Peter Langi (6-6, 370) has more than 30 D1 offers. Junior Michael Langi (6-3, 280) and senior Losipini Tupou (6-3, 280) have both committed to Arizona.
Riordan’s skill players also are tough to beat. Junior QB Michael Mitchell Jr. passed for 2,927 yards and 31 TDs as a second-year sophomore starter last season. Senior WR Chris Lawson has committed to Washington and junior WR Cynai Thomas has dozens of D1 offers. There’s also sophomore WR/DB Wesley Winn and senior WR/DB Judge Nash who should provide many big plays this season. All of these players and perhaps several more will all eventually sign D1 college scholarship offers.
21. GRANITE HILLS (EL CAJON)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 12-1, No. 11
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 at Mission Hills (San Marcos)
The Eagles followed up their 2022 CIF state title in D2-A with a perfect run through the CIF San Diego Section Open Division before they fell to Mission Viejo in the CIF SoCal D1-AA regional final. While there were no losses until facing the Diablos, Granite Hills had an overtime win vs league rival Helix, an overtime win in the Open semis vs Carlsbad and a one-point win vs Lincoln. If it had been a series of easy wins, we’d have started the team higher than Lincoln or any other team in San Diego. Instead, we’re going with Lincoln higher based on its returning players.
Head coach Kellan Cobbs has a much harder rebuilding job to do over the previous season, but the return of sophomore QB Zach Benitez, who not only started as a freshman but was the State Freshman Player of the Yea, is a great place to start. Max Turner also is back at running back after going for 1,350 yards and 19 TDs as a junior. The other top back at Granite Hills last year, Isaiah “Pablo” Jackson, is now at Helix. Another big returnee for Cobbs is WR Brenden Lewis. More renowned as one of the top baseball prospects in the state, Lewis caught 60 passes for 761 yards and nine TDs last season.
22. SAN CLEMENTE
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 9-2, No. 9
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 at Chaparral (Temecula)
This preseason ranking is actually one spot higher than last year in the preseason, although it’s a bit of a drop from where the Tritons finished. The program was rewarded for getting a win over Mission Viejo and qualifying for the CIFSS D1 playoffs (top eight) by head coach Jaime Ortiz being honored as Cal-Hi Sports State Coach of the Year. This year’s team has the challenge of finding new standouts on offense while playing in the new Alpha League, a four-team grouping with Mission Viejo, Edison of Huntington Beach and Los Alamitos.
Receiver Cole Herlean looks like the top returnee on offense after he hauled in 35 catches last season. The new QB could be Redlands Citrus Valley transfer Dawson Martinez. The defense includes two major college recruits with Matai Tagoa’i (USC) and Puka Fuimaono (Arizona State) both coming back. Two all-league first team DBs also returning are Max Bollard and Max Kotiranta.
23. CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC (SAN DIEGO)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 4-8, NR
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 at Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista)
Forget about the 4-8 record from last season. The real one to know is the one that St. Augustine of San Diego had at 10-5, winning the SD Section D1 title and then losing in a heart-breaker to St. Bonaventure of Ventura in the CIF SoCal D1-A regional final. St. Augustine, you see, was loaded with underclass talent and probably would have been No. 2 or No. 3 to start in the preseason in the section. Then there was a sudden coaching change and then a major chunk of those players that were at Saints before have now switched over to their arch-rivals.
One of those from St. Augustine is junior QB Brady Palmer. He had about 4,000 yards passing in two seasons for Saints and is one of the state’s top junior QBs with 13 reported offers, including those from Ohio State, Auburn, Utah and Washington. All-State sophomore Bronx Letuligasenoa is another of those from St. Augustine where he started two years and had 91 tackles plus 9.5 sacks last season. Yet another is junior WR/DB Parker Johnson (numerous offers). Head coach Sean Doyle also has several top returning players within the program who didn’t transfer in, mainly DL Sidney Dupay (6-5, 265 & San Diego State commit) and DL Luke Westfall (6-3, 250).
24. SERVITE (ANAHEIM)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 8-6, No. 17
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs East (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Every team in the Trinity League outside of Mater Dei and St. John Bosco has D1 recruits, great size and expert coaching. While Servite is sixth out of the six teams to start 2024, the Friars don’t seem far removed at all from either JSerra or Santa Margarita.
Head coach Chris Reinert welcomes back Leo Hannan, one of the top QBs in Orange County, to lead the offense. Hannan, committed to Michigan State, passed for 2,429 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Also returning is San Diego State-bound RB Quaid Carr. A preseason pick at RB for Orange County, he racked up more than 1,200 yards rushing with 17 TDs. Servite also has Devan Parker (53 catches last season) ready to haul in more receptions and he’s not someone to kick the ball to on returns. The top returnee on defense is LB Isaiah Leilua, who is just a sophomore but as a freshman was the leading tackler. More quality defenders like Leilua, however, will be needed to keep the Friars close to their similar league opponents.
25. LONG BEACH POLY (LONG BEACH)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 10-2, No. 18
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 at Folsom
The first game for us to start the 2022 season was to see the Jackrabbits playing up at Clovis. It’s going to be similar for this season as they will be starting 2024 with their first game up at Folsom. It was an easy win in 2022, but Folsom is at another level. Poly will be an underdog this time.
Head coach Stephen Barbee and staff have a lot of holes to fill caused by graduation on both sides of the ball, especially at quarterback where three-year standout Darius Curry has moved on to Colorado State. Poly does have offensive firepower especially at receiver where junior Kamarie Smith returns after an all-state sophomore showing. Ezekiel Orozco also was one of Curry’s top targets last season. The top defensive returnee is DB Julius Johnson, regarded as one of the top Class of 2027 recruits at DB in the nation. Junior Toa Tamasoa (6-4, 250) also had 4.5 sacks in a promising sophomore season.
26. CLOVIS EAST (CLOVIS)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 9-3, 47
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 at West (Salt Lake City)
Defending champion Clovis North is an obvious preseason No. 1 in the CIF Central Section, but No. 2 is not so easy. Despite having a loss to Central of Fresno in that crazy shootout from last year (58-55), we’re going with the Timberwolves in that spot. They have strong returnees across the board and will have the section’s top returning quarterback.
That QB is Tyus Miller, who is going to be a three-year starter. The UC Davis commit had 3,510 yards passing and 43 TDs last season with 612 yards rushing and five scores. Harold Duvall also is back at WR. He just committed to Fresno State to make the locals happy over offers from many others. Harold, who also plays defense, had 1,370 all-purpose yards last season on offense plus 57 tackles and three interceptions on defense. In the game we saw the team play last year, junior RB Caleb Slocum looked good and should be good this season. The defense will have two of its leading tacklers, LBs Jax Koontz and Joshua Wilson, both back.
27. CARLSBAD
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 10-1, 16
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 at Lakewood
One wouldn’t expect the Lancers to be able to stay up near the very top of the CIF San Diego Section pecking order like they were the last two seasons with QB Julian Sayin leading the way. He’s now at Ohio State and a massive chunk of the rest of the offense is gone, too. Head coach Thadd MacNeal runs a quality program, though, so a massive drop doesn’t seem to be expected by local media members.
Carlsbad’s top returnees are along the offensive line. Kai Jacobowitz (6-8, 300) has several Ivy League offers since he’s got a GPA of 4.8. Andrew Langer (6-4, 260) is another returning starter and has committed to Eastern Washington. The Lancers also have one of the state’s top kickers. Tyler Prasuhn (committed to Washington) has gone 10-of-13 on field goals the past two seasons.
28. EDISON (HUNTINGTON BEACH)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 6-5, No. 36
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs Clovis West (Fresno) at Buchanan
All four teams in the new Alpha League (realigned for competitive equity factors) will likely be in the top 50 of the state all season and we put three in the first 30 with the fourth (Los Alamitos) not too far behind. We just liked Edison’s combo at RB & QB a bit more than what Los Al has returning.
Julius Gillick was a breakout star in Orange County last season with 1,596 yards rushing and will be back for his senior season. The QB was Save Niumata, who had 1,308 yards passing with several games missed due to injury. We can’t ever remember Edison not having a good offensive line, either. The back end of the defense looks especially strong with all-Sunset League picks Jake Minter and Jacob Martin both back. One of the leading tacklers last year, Jack Knudtson, also is returning.
29. SAN RAMON VALLEY (DANVILLE)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 13-2, No. 20
First Game: Friday, Aug. 30 vs St. Ignatius (San Francisco)
Considered a step behind De La Salle and Pittsburg in the CIF North Coast Section but still among the best in Northern California would be the Wolves. They should be okay with the graduation of three-year standout Luke Baker at quarterback and they arguably have the best overall player in Northern California.
That player is LB Marco Jones. He had 22 tackles and an interception in a huge outing that wasn’t enough in a 17-7 loss to De La Salle in the NCS Open championship. He also had 166 tackles for the season and combined with running back totals was named State Junior Player of the Year. Marco has committed to Texas A&M. The new QB will be 6-foot-4, 195-pound Rhett Thompson, who has been waiting for his chance and could have a breakout year. SRV also welcomes back one of the top receivers in the NCS in Owen Scott. The UC Davis commit had 84 catches for 1,405 yards last season.
30. GRANT (SACRAMENTO)
2023 Record & Final TOP 75 Rank: 12-3, No. 30
First Game: Friday, Aug. 23 vs. Edison (Stockton)
The Pacers have to be ahead of Rocklin in the preseason rankings based on their strong win over the Thunder in last year’s CIF NorCal D2-AA championship. They also are going to be playing at De La Salle in their second game and are hosting San Diego Section powerhouse Lincoln on Sept. 27. They could have arguably started out higher ranked, but that was an awfully strong senior class that moved on, especially at running back.
Grant does have its quarterback returning and a prolific pass rusher. The QB is Luke Alexander, who connected for 3,105 yards passing last season with 43 TDs. Look for sophomore Koby Shabazz to do even more after he had 52 grabs for 723 yards and six TDs as a freshman. Koby also can take kickoffs and punts to the house at any time. The pass rusher is senior Jeremiah Tuiileila. He had 23 sacks as a junior plus 130 tackles in all and was the Sacramento Bee’s Metro Player of the Year. There should be good size up front and other players ready to step up as Grant would like to become more of a threat to Folsom atop the SJS.
TO SEE PREVIEWS FOR TEAMS RANKED FROM NO. 31 TO NO. 50, CLICK HERE.
Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports