SOUTHERN DIVISION
Last year’s champion: Corona del Mar, def. Garden Grove, 42-21
Top seeds: 1. Garden Grove; 2. Westminster; 3. Canyon; 4. Katella.
Championship game: Saturday, Dec. 6, site is TBD.
• 5 Predictions for the Southern Division playoffs
*Teams listed in order of how they appear on the playoff bracket.
GARDEN GROVE
9-1 overall, 5-0 in Garden Grove League
Overview: Now that nemesis Corona del Mar is out of the Southern Division, it may be time for the Argonauts to claim their first CIF-SS title since 2010. One-sided wins over fellow playoff teams Westminster, Los Amigos and Rancho Alamitos also bodes well.
Player to watch: Jordan Antunez, sophomore running back. The young rusher’s stats have taken a bit of a hit, because some of the Argonauts’ games have been blowouts, but he still has 1,251 yards and 13 touchdowns, and is averaging 8 yards per carry.
Others to watch: Alex Ceja, senior quarterback; Austen Christian, senior wide receiver/defensive back; Josh Green, senior quarterback; Michael Vaicaro, senior linebacker; Daniel Orellana, junior linebacker.
CALVARY CHAPEL
5-5 overall, 3-2 in Orange Coast League
Overview: The Eagles were only 10 points behind eventual league winner Estancia in their Orange Coast opener, then dropped a shootout to Saddleback to fall into third place. Calvary Chapel also secured nonleague wins over Sage Hill and Bassett.
Player to watch: Patrick Glasgow, junior quarterback. Glasgow was, by far, the most prolific passer in the Orange Coast League, with 2,630 yards and 21 touchdowns through the air.
Others to watch: Braeden Stack, junior running back; Joey Cox, senior wide receiver; Josh Debernarde, junior safety; Andrew Axtell, senior linebacker; Kilian Headington, senior defensive back.
BREA OLINDA
5-5 overall, 2-1 in North Hills League
Overview: The Wildcats came up just a point short against Canyon in their North Hills League showdown, so could be formidable as the second team out of the league. It’s their first playoff appearance since 2011, when they got knocked out in the second round.
Player to watch: Zach Arnold, junior linebacker. Arnold has carried a load on defense for the Wildcats this season, with 123 tackles and eight for loss, both team highs.
Others to watch: Billy Hanley, senior running back/safety; Noah Rivera, sophomore wide receiver; Nick Drury, junior quarterback; Brandon Legendre, junior offensive lineman/defensive end; Diego Oropeza, senior linebacker; Michael Martinson, sophomore running back.
OCEAN VIEW
7-3 overall, 4-1 in Golden West League
Overview: The Seahawks truly turned things around from their 1-9 record last season. Their season started off with a victory over Huntington Beach rival Marina and they built from there. Double-digit losses to Estancia and Westminster temper hopes of a deep playoff run.
Player to watch: Tyler Clay, senior wide receiver/defensive back. Quarterback Blake Meyer’s favorite target on offense, Clay had 706 yards and eight touchdowns receiving and also led the Seahawks in interceptions (3) and was third in tackles (63) on defense.
Others to watch: Tyler Powelson, senior linebacker; Blake Meyer, junior quarterback; David Alani, senior defensive end/offensive lineman; Greg Tocchetti, senior running back; Kevin Martinez, senior cornerback; Corey Tocchetti, senior wide receiver.
ESTANCIA
8-2 overall, 5-0 in Orange Coast League
Overview: The Eagles won their first Orange Coast League title since 2011 and will hope to improve on that year’s effort, when Estancia fell to Beckman in the Southern Division semifinals. Estancia already has a nonleague win over Ocean View.
Player to watch: Dylan Laurent, sophomore running back/defensive back. Laurent was a threat on both sides of the ball, with 607 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing, but is also shares the county lead with six interceptions on defense.
Others to watch: Tyler Thomas, senior linebacker; Connor Brown, junior quarterback; Christian Laurent, senior running back/defensive back; Dalton O’Daly, senior wide receiver/defensive back; Ronnie Urquiza, senior linebacker.
SANTIAGO
7-3 overall, 2-3 in Garden Grove League
Overview: The Cavaliers earned their first winning season and playoff berth since 2009, but it wasn’t easy. Four of their seven wins were by six points or less and they were rewarded for winning those close games with an at-large bid.
Player to watch: Mario Monroy, senior linebacker. Monroy only had two games this season where he didn’t have 10 tackles or more and led the Cavaliers in sacks.
Others to watch: Junior Ortega, senior running back; Brayan Haimes, senior defensive back; Eligio Quintero, junior linebacker; Sergio Vasquez, junior wide receiver; Ulysses Cruz, senior quarterback.
KATELLA
7-3 overall, 5-0 in Orange League
Overview: The Knights earned their second Orange League title in three years in dominating fashion, outscoring league opponents 215-16 in five games. They also had nonleague wins over Costa Mesa and Loara.
Player to watch: Jameyson Mowdy, senior running back/defensive back. Mowdy ran for 1,165 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, but also played his fair share on defense.
Others to watch: Jonathan Sanchez, senior linebacker; Sebastian Damasco, junior linebacker; Ricardo Armenta, senior quarterback; Isaac Sosa, senior wide receiver; Fred Macias, sophomore running back; Juan Madrigal, senior cornerback.
El MODENA
3-7 overall, 1-2 in North Hills League
Overview: Three teams earned playoffs spots, across all CIF-SS divisions, with only three wins. El Modena is one of them. The Vanguards had some close losses, though, and could have a puncher’s chance to spring an upset.
Player to watch: Kenneth Lamb, junior running back. The Vanguards have suffered some crucial injuries, but Lamb has kept them afloat in recent weeks, with back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances.
Others to watch: Frank Salinas, senior running back/linebacker; Garrett Gramm, sophomore quarterback; Patrick Marzolino, senior wide receiver; Dillon Keefe, sophomore linebacker/running back.
CANYON
4-6 overall, 3-0 in North Hills League
Overview: The Comanches are riding high after securing their first outright league title in school history and could be an outside contender in the Southern Division race. Canyon started the season on a six-game losing streak, but won its last four to get into the playoffs for the second straight year.
Player to watch: Trace Hobbs, junior wide receiver/defensive back. Hobbs is a impact player in all phases. He is the Comanches top receiver (399 yards), top tackler (114) and a solid kick returner.
Others to watch: Ethan Rogers, senior linebacker; Chris Tsirtsis, sophomore defensive back; Jason Harman, junior quarterback; Charlie Treanor, junior running back; Daniel Casas, senior linebacker/running back; Blake Suttle, junior linebacker.
SANTA ANA
6-4 overall, 3-2 in Golden West League
Overview: The Saints return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and after a three-year run where they only won one game. The feel-good story may end early, though, as the Saints will be heavy underdogs to win in the first round.
Player to watch: Jonathan Briseno, sophomore quarterback. The young signal-caller leads the Saints in rushing yardage (759) and passing (449), with 11 total touchdowns.
Others to watch: Jorge Briseno, junior running back; Fabian Martinez, senior running back; Romero Valdillas, junior linebacker; Kevin Ceja, sophomore.
LOS AMIGOS
6-4 overall, 4-1 in Garden Grove League
Overview: The Lobos have finished in second place in the Garden Grove League for four consecutive seasons and have had first-round playoff wins in the past three years, but they haven’t been able to get past the second round.
Player to watch: Moby Contreras, senior running back/linebacker. Contreras became the only 2,000-yard rusher in Orange County this season with 323 yards on the ground in a win over Bolsa Grande on Friday. He also led the Lobos in tackles on defense.
Others to watch: Luis Casas, senior quarterback; Alfred Dominguez, senior offensive lineman/linebacker; Brian Ayala, junior kicker/punter; Rayshawn Johnson, senior wide receiver; Efrain Paz, senior linebacker.
MAGNOLIA
5-5 overall, 3-2 in Orange League
Overview: The Sentinels lost their first two Orange League games to Savanna and Katella, but came back to win their final three games of the year to make the playoffs. The most crucial was probably a tight, 14-10 win over Anaheim.
Player to watch: Fernando Garcia, senior quarterback. Garcia topped the run-oriented Orange League with 1,067 yards passing and nine touchdown passes.
Others to watch: Lupe Lopes, senior running back; Kalolo Pangia, junior running back; Mekhi Pelzer, senior wide receiver.
SADDLEBACK
6-4 overall, 4-1 in Orange Coast League
Overview: The Roadrunners looked overmatched at times during the nonleague season, but rattled off five straight wins before their 44-13 loss to Estancia in the regular-season finale. It’s Saddleback’s first winning season since 2006 and in between, the Roadrunners had gone 6-64.
Player to watch: Chris Rios, senior linebacker/fullback. The 5-foot-8, 210-pound captain leads the Roadrunners in tackles (86) and rushing touchdowns (7).
Others to watch: Johnny Rojas, senior quarterback; Daniel Porras, senior running back; Bryan Salcido, senior wide receiver; Juan Medina, senior linebacker; Eddie Flores, senior defensive back.
RANCHO ALAMITOS
8-2 overall, 3-2 in Garden Grove League
Overview: The Vaqueros looked great against relatively weak nonleague opponents, but had trouble going toe-to-toe with the Garden Grove League’s best teams, Garden Grove and Los Amigos.
Player to watch: Nick Brown, senior quarterback. Brown has been among Orange County’s passing leaders all year and finished second in yardage with 3,043 through the air, to go along with 38 touchdowns.
Others to watch: Justin Kanyavong, junior running back; Matthew Finona, senior cornerback; Joseph Lainez, senior wide receiver; Devin Velez, senior wide receiver; Mark Reyes, senior linebacker; Franky Gonzalez, sophomore defensive end.
WESTMINSTER
8-2 overall, 5-0 in Golden West League
Overview: That 21-0 loss to Garden Grove on Sept. 5 feels like a long time ago, but have the Lions improved enough to make a run at the top-seeded Argonauts? It might be hard to gauge after a dominant run through the Golden West league, where the Lions outscored opponents 227-25.
Player to watch: Huberto Maciel, senior running back. Maciel has visited the end zone on 14 occasions this season and has rushed for a team-high 873 yards.
Others to watch: Matt Dinh, junior quarterback; Gabriel Sanchez, senior wide receiver; Andrew Dotson, senior wide receiver.
ANAHEIM
6-3 overall, 3-2 in Orange League
Overview: The Colonists already have a win over fellow playoff team Santa Ana, but lost a shot at second place outright with a 14-10 loss to Magnolia later in the season. Anaheim also had nonleague wins over Orange, Loara and Santa Ana Valley.
Player to watch: Robert Barajas, senior defensive back/wide receiver. Barajas is tied for the county lead with six interceptions on defense and is the leading Anaheim receiver this year with 235 yards and five touchdown catches on offense.
Others to watch: Brandon Lopez, junior quarterback/defensive back; Joel Montes de oca, senior running back; Immanuel Covarrubias, senior linebacker/running back; Christian Gomez, senior linebacker; Jacob Diaz, senior defensive back; Kevin Montoya, junior defensive end.
