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OCVarsity will be previewing every Orange County high school football league and every team before the season begins.
KAPPA LEAGUE PREVIEW
The Kappa League is a new six-team league that includes Brea Olinda, Esperanza, Garden Grove, St. Margaret’s, Segerstrom and Westminster.
Brea Olinda quarterback Cullen Doyle (10) completed 12 of 22 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 37-14 victory over Sunny Hills on Friday, Sept. 8. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)
BREA OLINDA
Top players: Cullen Doyle, QB, Sr.; Jake Brooks, LB/DE, Sr.; Brandon Elder, WR, Sr.; Nathan Aceves, RB, Sr.; Isaak Revis-Melendez, WR/DB, Sr.
What to expect: The Wildcats have a new head coach in Justin Villasenor but return both coordinators. Expect the offense to be balanced like it was in 2023. Nathan Aceves ran for over 1,000 yards and had 12 touchdowns. Cullen Doyle threw for 167 yards per game and had 14 touchdowns last season. On defense, returner Isaak Revis-Melendez led the team in interceptions and Jake Brooks led the team in sacks. Villasenor is excited about Brea Olinda’s sophomore class which features four players who could be big contributors. The Wildcats played new league foe Westminster in 2023 and narrowly beat the Lions 28-26.
ESPERANZA
Top players: Edward Khutsishvili, TE, Sr.; Coen Ali, WR/DB, Sr.; Dylan Critchfield, LB, Sr.; Travis Frazier, QB, Jr.; Seth Coons, DL/OL, Sr.
What to expect: Esperanza reached the playoffs in 2023 for the first time in four years. The Aztecs ran for 177 yards per game with 26 touchdowns last season. Elias Rodriguez and Brody Snyder will be the two running backs and coach JP Presley is high on junior quarterback Travis Frazier. Tight end Edward Khutsishvili, who is 6-foot-4, was the MVP of the National Preps Showcase camp this spring and has offers from multiple Ivy League schools. Coen Ali led the team in interceptions in 2023 and leads an experienced secondary.
GARDEN GROVE
Top players: Quentin Pacelli, LB/RB, Jr.; Christian Mendoza, WR/DB, Jr.; Malakai Beatty, WR/DB, Sr.; Omar Contreras, OL/DL, Sr.; Evan Torres, LB/RB, Jr.
What to expect: Garden Grove has primarily had a running offense over the years. The Argonauts are now under new head coach Matthew LemMon who previously coached at Tamalpais where he ran spread and air raid offenses. Christian Mendoza and Malakai Beatty are top receivers who should see more catches than they did in 2023. Quentin Pacelli and Evan Torres will both get carries behind a solid offensive line led by Omar Contreras. Garden Grove missed the playoffs in 2023 for the first time since 2002.
SEGERSTROM
Top players: Noah Tagaloa, RB/DB, Sr.; Jesse Lopez, QB, Sr.; Nicholas Cervantes, WR/DB, Sr.; Gilbert Peralta, DL, Sr.; Diego Hernandez, OL/DL, Sr.
What to expect: Segerstrom was two points away from winning the Big 4 League championship last season and returns a lot of talent on offense. Jesse Lopez will be a three-year starter at quarterback and Nicholas Cervantes is also a three-year starter on both sides of the ball. Noah Tagaloa was the Big 4 League Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore but missed a lot of last season due to a foot injury. The Jaguars graduated a lot of talent on defense, but the secondary is experienced with Cervantes, Tagaloa and Jason Salazar. Gilbert Peralta led the team with six sacks in 2023 and could rack up more sacks this season with that secondary buying time for him to rush the passer.
ST. MARGARET’S
Top players: Sonny Mendez, OL/DL, Sr.; Will Viola, WR/LB, Sr.; Luke Newman, WR/DB, Sr.; Maverick Young, WR/DB, Sr.; Jack Kleinhanzl, LB/TE, Jr.
What to expect: The Tartans won a share of the Orange Coast League championship last season in coach Dan O’Shea’s first season at the helm. St. Margaret’s had one of the leading passing offenses in the county last season with 2,666 yards and 32 touchdowns. Sophomores Kai Letcher and Charlie Allen are competing for the starting quarterback spot. They will have a trio of talented receivers to throw to with Will Viola and Maverick Young and Luke Newman. All three of them have scholarship offers from the University of Chicago and Viola has racked up a handful of Division 3 offers. Nine of the Tartans’ ten opponents are Orange County teams including nonleague games against Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills and Dana Hills.
WESTMINSTER
Top players: Ethan Cedillo, TE/DE, Sr.; Brad Nguyen, DB/WR, Sr.; Jason Guzman, DB/WR, Jr.; Brandon Le, LB, Sr.; Anthony Laureano, OL/DL, Jr.; A’Marri Hopwood, DE/TE, Jr.
What to expect: The Lions have a new head coach, Alex De Giacomo, who was a former player at Westminster and played at UNLV. He was previously the defensive coordinator at Westminster for a defense that had 36 sacks in 2023. Ethan Cedillo is a talented two-way player who had 99 tackles, seven sacks and also had five receiving touchdowns on offense. Jason Guzman was the team’s leading receiver as a sophomore last season and had an interception on defense. Senior Jacob Aguilar and junior Edwin Hopkins are competing for the starting quarterback position.
KAPPA LEAGUE SCHEDULES 2024
BREA OLINDA
Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Aug. 23
At Sonora
La Habra HS
7 p.m.
Aug. 30
Vs. California
Brea Olinda HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 6
At Diamond Bar
Diamond Bar HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 13
Vs. Jurupa Hills
Brea Olinda HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 20
At Fullerton
Fullerton HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 4*
Vs. Westminster
Brea Olinda HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 11*
At St. Margaret’s
St. Margaret’s HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 18*
Vs. Garden Grove
Brea Olinda HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 25*
At Segerstrom
Segerstrom HS
7 p.m.
Nov. 1*
Vs. Esperanza
Brea Olinda HS
7 p.m.
*League game
ESPERANZA
Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Aug. 29
Vs. Fountain Valley
Yorba Linda HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 6
Vs. Valencia
Yorba Linda HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 13
At Dana Hills
Dana Hills HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 20
At Marina
Westminster HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 27
Vs. Peninsula
Yorba Linda HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 4*
At Garden Grove
Garden Grove HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 10*
Vs. Segerstrom
Yorba Linda HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 18*
Vs. St. Margaret’s
Yorba Linda HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 25*
At Westminster
Westminster HS
7 p.m.
Nov. 1*
At Brea Olinda
Brea Olinda HS
7 p.m.
*League game
GARDEN GROVE
Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Aug. 23
Vs. Bellflower
Garden Grove HS
7 p.m.
Aug. 30
At Pacifica
Bolsa Grande HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 6
Vs. Santa Ana
Garden Grove HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 13
At Gahr
Gahr HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 20
At University
University HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 4*
Vs. Esperanza
Garden Grove HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 11*
At Westminster
Westminster HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 18*
At Brea Olinda
Brea Olinda HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 25*
At St. Margaret’s
St. Margaret’s HS
7 p.m.
Nov. 1*
Vs. Segerstrom
Garden Grove HS
7 p.m.
*League game
ST. MARGARET’S
Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Aug. 23
Vs. Laguna Beach
St. Margaret’s HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 6
At La Salle
La Salle HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 13
Vs. Laguna Hills
St. Margaret’s HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 20
Vs. Capistrano Valley Christian
St. Margaret’s HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 27
At Dana Hills
Dana Hills HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 4*
At Segerstrom
Segerstrom HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 11*
Vs. Brea Olinda
St. Margaret’s HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 18*
At Esperanza
Yorba Linda HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 25*
Vs. Garden Grove
St. Margaret’s HS
7 p.m.
Nov. 1*
Vs. Westminster
St. Margaret’s HS
7 p.m.
*League game
SEGERSTROM
Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Aug. 23
Vs. Palm Springs
Segerstrom HS
7 p.m.
Aug. 30
Vs. Santa Ana Valley
Segerstrom HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 6
At California
California HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 12
At El Modena
El Modena HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 27
At Troy
Fullerton HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 4*
Vs. St. Margaret’s
Segerstrom HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 10*
At Esperanza
Yorba Linda HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 18*
At Westminster
Westminster HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 25*
Vs. Brea Olinda
Segerstrom HS
7 p.m.
Nov. 1*
At Garden Grove
Garden Grove HS
7 p.m.
*League game
WESTMINSTER
Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Aug. 23
At Marina
Westminster HS
7 p.m.
Aug. 30
Vs. Santiago
Westminster HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 6
At Santa Ana Valley
Santa Ana Valley HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 13
Vs. Anaheim
Westminster HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 27
At Cerritos
Gahr HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 4*
At Brea Olinda
Brea Olinda HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 11*
Vs. Garden Grove
Westminster HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 18*
Vs. Segerstrom
Westminster HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 25*
Vs. Esperanza
Westminster HS
7 p.m.
Nov. 1*
At St. Margaret’s
St. Margaret’s HS
7 p.m.
*League game
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