OCVarsity’s team preview for 2016:
LAGUNA HILLS HAWKS
Coach: Mike Maceranka
Last season: 8-4, 2-2 Sea View League
Scouting report: The Hawks have a new coach who is not completely new to the school. Mike Maceranka played at Laguna Hills and was an assistant coach under his predecessor, Bruce Ingalls, before going to Segerstrom where he was that school’s only coach in its 11-year history before Maceranka returned to his alma mater. Maceranka said he takes over a good situation. “Bruce left me with a good group of players,” Maceranka said. “He could have been selfish and enjoyed this group for one more year, but he didn’t do that.” The Hawks have 14 returning starters, eight of them on defense. On that side of the ball is returning team captain Matt Davisson, who was all-league second team last season. Defensive backs Branson Weems and Owen Fellows were all-league first- and second-team, respectively, in 2015. Jacob Armstrong was all-league second team as an offensive lineman in ’15, and is on the depth chart as a defensive lineman this season. Laguna Hills will run the wing-T offense. “Which nobody does down here,” Maceranka said, “so we hope that gives us an advantage.” The Hawks can throw the ball, too, had have a good corps of receivers led by all-league first-team returnee Logan Montgomery, so there will be offensive balance. Laguna Hills would be in Division 8 if it qualifies for the playoffs.
Bottom line: Look for Laguna Hills to be in the thick of the chase for one of the league’s two guaranteed playoff berths.
Players to watch: Matt Davisson, LB, Sr.; Owen Fellows, DB, Sr.; Logan Montgomery, RB/WR/DB, Sr.; Branson Weems, RB/WR/DB, Sr.
RELATED LINKS
- Sea View League preview
- Aliso Niguel preview
- Capistrano Valley preview
- Dana Hills preview
- El Toro preview
- Laguna Hills preview
Contact the writer: sfryer@scng.com
