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OCVarsity will be previewing every Orange County high school football league and every team before the season begins.
ZETA LEAGUE PREVIEW
The Zeta League is a new five-team league that includes Century, Godinez, Magnolia, Saddleback and Savanna.
CENTURY
Top players: Daniel Joya, QB, Sr.; Noe Najera, RB/LB, Sr.; Jose Jimenez, WR/DB, Sr.; Joseph Garcia, OL/DL, Sr.; Alexis Ayala, OL/DL, Sr.
What to expect: The Centurious are in position for better results than last year when they went 1-9 overall and were 0-5 in the Orange League that included Zeta League members Magnolia and Savanna. Century second-year coach Lance Neal expects the team to be better in every category. They have 17 returning starters, many of whom are two-way players. Daniel Joya passed for 971 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 415 yards in nine games in 2023. Junior receiver and defensive back Matthew Pantaleon and junior lineman Alex Alonso will be among the Centurions’ top two-way players. Century lost to Magnolia and Savanna last season and defeated Saddleback.
GODINEZ
Top players: Juan Memije, WR/DB, Sr.; Chris Villalobos, TE/LB, Sr.; Alexis Jimenez, RB/LB, Sr.; Pedro Martinez, RB/DB, Sr.; Damien Arreola, QB, Jr.
What to expect: The Grizzlies go into the new league with recent success against Zeta League teams. Godinez beat Saddleback 29-8, Magnolia 41-0 and Century 41-6 in nonleague games last season on their way to a 3-7 overall finish. The Grizzlies were 0-3 in the Pac-4 League. Chris Villalobos was their leading tackler with 51 solo tackles and 85 total tackles. Godinez coach Aron Kaye praised quarterback Damien Arreola’s offseason improvement. Juan Memijo will be an offensive playmaker. Junior linebacker Mateo Picou will be counted on to be a leader on defense. Jason Villareal brings senior leadership to the offensive line.
MAGNOLIA
Top players: Thierry Araujo, OL/DL, Sr.; Neev Bedi, TE/LB, Sr.; Derricks Cline, QB/DB, Sr.; Kamari Smith, LB, Sr.; Joevani Flores, WR/DB, Sr.
What to expect: Experience can provide the best lessons, so the Sentinels should be an improved team. Many Magnolia players played football for the first time in 2023 when the Sentinels finished 1-9 overall and 1-4 in the Orange League. Several of those returning players are on defense so Magnolia second-year head coach Poutoa Fuega anticipates better results from that unit. Offensive line should be a leading asset, too, where Araujo has established himself as a team leader.
SADDLEBACK
Top players: Chris Romero, RB/LB, Jr.; Andrew Alvarez, QB/DB, So.; Joseph Torres, LB, Sr.; Pablo Sanchez, OL/DL, Jr.; Fabian Bravo, RB/LB, Jr.
What to expect: Coach Rob Thompson said the Roadrunners have a group of players dedicated to improving after going 0-10 overall and 0-6 in the Orange Coast League last season. Running back Chris Romero gets to a hole quickly and can turn on the speed from there. He also is a defensive leader. Another is senior Daniel Rodriguez (6-4, 240), a stand-up defensive end who will rush the passer or drop back into pass coverage. Ralph Vargas, a junior, returns as a starting offensive lineman. Thompson is back as head coach, a position he held for six seasons through the 2016 season. Saddleback has had four head coaches during the intervening seven years. Thompson has brought in an new staff of assistants. Coaching stability and a fresh start in a new league could set Saddleback into a winning direction.
SAVANNA
Top players: Fabrissio Ramirez, WR/DB, Sr.; Jake Dorsi, RB/DB, Sr.; Diego Perez, QB, Sr.; Frank Rocha, WR/DB, Sr.; Gabriel Esquivel, OL, Sr.
What to expect: The Rebels spent the summer installing a no-huddle offense under first-year head coach Fred Emmerson, who has coached at several schools including as head coach at Taft of Woodland Hills last season. Emmerson said quarterback Diego Perez has quickly learned the system. Perez threw for 1,116 yards last year and probably will surpass that total this year. Fabrissio Ramirez will be a leading target. Jake Dorsi rushed for a team-high 597 yards last season. Center Gabriel Esquivel leads the offensive line crew. The Rebels last year were 2-8 overall and 2-3 in the Orange League that included Zeta League members Century and Magnolia.
ZETA LEAGUE SCHEDULES 2024
CENTURY
Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Aug. 23
Vs. San Gabriel Gabrielino
Century HS
7 p.m.
Aug. 30
At Verbum Dei
Verbum Dei HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 5
At Azusa
Citrus College
7 p.m.
Sept. 13
At Bolsa Grande
Bolsa Grande HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 20
Vs. Costa Mesa
Century HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 27
Vs. Loara
Century HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 11*
Vs. Magnolia
Century HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 18*
At Savanna
Glover Stadium
6:30 p.m.
Oct. 25*
Vs. Saddleback
Century HS
7 p.m.
Nov. 1*
At Godinez
Santa Ana Valley HS
7 p.m.
*League game
GODINEZ
Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Aug. 22
At Loara
Glover Stadium
6:30 p.m.
Aug. 30
Vs. La Quinta
Santa Ana Valley HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 6
At Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 13
Vs. Santa Ana Valley
Santa Ana Valley HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 20
At Rancho Alamitos
Bolsa Grande HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 27
Vs. Katella
Santa Ana Valley HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 4*
Vs. Saddleback
Santa Ana Valley HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 18*
At Magnolia
Western HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 24*
At Savanna
Glover Stadium
6:30 p.m.
Nov. 1*
Vs. Century
Santa Ana Valley HS
7 p.m.
*League game
MAGNOLIA
Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Aug. 22
Vs. Costa Mesa
Western HS
7 p.m.
Aug. 29
At Valencia
Valencia HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 5
Vs. Pioneer
Western HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 12
At Katella
Glover Stadium
7 p.m.
Sept. 20
Vs. Lynwood
Western HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 27
At Buena Park
Buena Park HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 3*
Vs. Savanna
Western HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 11*
At Century
Century HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 18*
Vs. Godinez
Western HS
7 p.m.
Nov. 1*
At Saddleback
Saddleback HS
7 p.m.
*League game
SADDLEBACK
Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Aug. 23
At Vista Tri-City Christian
Tri-City Christian HS
7 p.m.
Aug. 30
Vs. Morningside
Saddleback HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 6
At Riverside La Sierra
Norte Vista HS
7:30 p.m.
Sept. 13
Vs. Rancho Alamitos
Saddleback HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 20
Vs. Maranatha Christian
Saddleback HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 27
At Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 4*
At Godinez
Santa Ana Valley HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 18*
Vs. Savanna
Saddleback HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 25*
At Century
Century HS
7 p.m.
Nov. 1*
Vs. Magnolia
Saddleback HS
7 p.m.
*League game
SAVANNA
Date
Opponent
Location
Time
Aug. 23
Vs. Bolsa Grande
Glover Stadium
6:30 p.m.
Aug. 29
At Rancho Alamitos
Bolsa Grande HS
6:30 p.m.
Sept. 7
Vs. Santiago
Western HS
11 a.m.
Sept. 13
At Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa HS
7 p.m.
Sept. 20
At Anaheim
Glover Stadium
6:30 p.m.
Sept. 27
Vs. Pioneer
Glover Stadium
6:30 p.m.
Oct. 3*
At Magnolia
Western HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 11*
At Saddleback
Saddleback HS
7 p.m.
Oct. 18*
Vs. Century
Glover Stadium
6:30 p.m.
Oct. 24*
Vs. Godinez
Glover Stadium
6:30 p.m.
*League game
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