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A few of Orange County’s top high school football teams are evaluating multiple quarterbacks with the season rapidly approaching.
Trabuco Hills, ranked No. 17 in the Orange County preseason poll, has not settled on a starting quarterback, coach Mark Nolan said Monday.
The Mustangs open their season Aug. 30 at Huntington Beach.
Over the summer, Nolan said senior John Santos, junior Tristan Zale and sophomore Sean Swatsek were competing for the starting QB job.
At El Dorado, the quarterback duel will extend into this week as it prepares for a season-opening game against Diamond Bar on Friday at Valencia High.
Seniors Mitchell Schroth and Luke Coulter are competing for the starting position, coach Zack LaMonda said Monday.
“They both played well (in our scrimmage) and (we’re) still using practice this week to make a final decision,” said LaMonda, whose team finished as the CIF-SS Division 7 runner-up last season.
Some county teams have recently settled their quarterback competitions.
Santa Margarita, ranked fourth in the county, will start senior John Gazzaniga (6-7, 230) against No. 3 Mission Viejo on Saturday, Eagles coach Anthony Rouzier said on Tuesday.
Newport Harbor, ranked 20th in the county, will start senior Bode Stefano (6-3, 210) on Friday when it opens against visiting St. Paul, Sailors coach Matt Burns said.
Stefano competed over the summer with junior Jake Meer.
Cypress, ranked No. 25 in the county, will start senior Keiran Edmundson (6-2, 185) in its opener Friday against La Mirada at Western High, Centurions coach Rick Feldman said.
Cypress also has sophomore quarterbacks Tim Carey, son of former Los Alamitos standout Tim Carey, and Xavier Guerrero. Carey, who saw action last season, is dealing with an injury, Feldman said.
San Clemente’s quarterback picture also has encountered an injury.
Senior Jack Ferguson posted on social media on Monday that he recently took a hard blow in practice and suffered a spleen injury.
“I’m focused on my recovery and staying mentally sharp,” Ferguson wrote on X. “I will be back stronger and more determined than ever.”
God has a plan! Unfortunately, I took a big hit during last week’s practice and suffered a spleen injury. I’m focused on my recovery and staying mentally sharp. I will be back stronger and more determined than ever! #QB1 #TrustTheProcess @Tritonfootball @ocvarsityguy… pic.twitter.com/ic0CsLt4Op
— Jack Ferguson (@JackFergusonQB) August 19, 2024
Over the summer, San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz listed Ferguson and Dawson Martinez as quarterbacks to watch. Martinez is a dual threat senior who played last season at Citrus Valley of Redlands.
COACHING MILESTONES
La Habra coach Frank Mazzotta enters the season three victories shy of his 250th career victory.
Mazzotta, in his 27th season at La Habra, has posted a record of 231-90-1 with the Highlanders. He earned 16 victories at Artesia before taking the helm at La Habra for the 1998 season.
In Week 10, Mazzotta will face off against another O.C. coaching veteran in Doug Case of Foothill.
Case, in his 25th season at Foothill and 32nd overall, enters the fall with 211 career victories. ….
Northwood coach JC Clarke is entering his 50th season overall coaching high school football.
SHORT ROUTES
New El Toro coach Peter Lofthouse said he received a congratulatory letter from Mike Milner, who coached the school through most of the 1990s, when he took over the Chargers’ program. …
Laguna Beach traveled to Japan over the summer to visit a high school team that it hosted last year. “Phenomenal experience,” Laguna Beach coach John Shanahan said. “A lot of sightseeing and we got four great practices in.” …
Crean Lutheran offensive lineman Jacob Maiava, who was selected second-team All-County last season at Santa Margarita, didn’t play in the scrimmage against Capistrano Valley due to injury, Saints coach Rick Curtis said.
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