Uniforms have been issued, starting positions have been settled and the ink is dry on the transfer paperwork.
It’s time for the 2015 football season.
Before the first games of Week 0, take a look at the Register’s Orange County preseason top 25.
Rankings start more arguments than they solve. But they sure are fun.
Let the fun begin …
PRESEASON O.C. TOP 25
1. MATER DEI
2014: 9-3 overall, 3-2 Trinity League (3rd place)
What we know: Mater Dei might have the best collection of skill players in Orange County. Osiris St. Brown, a receiver who transferred from rival Servite, gives the Monarchs an outside speed presence they have not had in years. The running game features 2014 All-Trinity League selection Brandon LaMarche. Frank Martin is one of the county’s top returning offensive linemen. Mater Dei’s secondary will be outstanding.
What we don’t know: The identity of the starting quarterback. Matt McDonald, a junior, and freshman JT Daniels had a close competition during the summer and that competition could continue through the start of the season. Mater Dei has new faces along the offensive and defensive line, and there is not a lot of depth at either. The Monarchs can’t afford to have lineman get banged up during their difficult nonleague schedule.
2015 opener: vs. Bishop Amat at Santa Ana Stadium, Aug. 28
2. MISSION VIEJO
2014: 12-2, 4-0 South Coast League (1st place)
What we know: Senior quarterback Brock Johnson looks set for a splendid senior year. Like Johnson, running back Isaiah Miller and receiver Bryce Chambers were all-league last year. The defense already looked good before brothers Brenden, a defensive back, and linebacker Colin Schooler transferred in August from Trabuco Hills where they were All-CIF last year. This clearly is the best public-school team in the county.
What we don’t know: High-quality transfers sure can help a team, but they can also disrupt team chemistry. Sometimes the new kids quickly become part of the family, sometimes their arrival creates resentment. The Diablos have a few two-way linemen, which suggests that depth there could be an issue if injury strikes.
2015 opener: def. Baldwin of Hawaii, 63-7, on Friday, Aug. 21
3. SANTA MARGARITA
2014: 6-5 overall, 2-3 Trinity League (4th place)
What we know: The Eagles have the county’s top college recruit, quarterback KJ Costello who was a league offensive co-MVP in 2014. Another leading recruit, receiver Dylan Crawford transferred in from St. Francis of La Canada and might emerge as the best receiver in Orange County. The Eagles, thanks to a solid group of linebackers, should be better defensively.
What we don’t know: All of that skill-position strength means little if the offensive line is average. Santa Margarita will have three new starters there. Teams with average or below-average offensive lines usually won’t succeed in the Trinity League.
2015 opener: at Cathedral Catholic of San Diego, Aug. 28
4. ORANGE LUTHERAN
2014: 4-6, 0-5 Trinity League (6th place)
What we know: Quarterback Lj Northington, all-league last year, leads what will be a spectacular offense. The Lancers have seven starters returning to an offense that averaged 36 points a game in 2014. They have the size on the offensive and defensive lines to match up fine with any Trinity League opponent.
What we don’t know: Lutheran’s health will be worth monitoring through a rugged nonleague schedule that includes Centennial of Corona, De La Salle of Concord and Vista Murrieta. Depth could be and issue when the Lancers play their Trinity League opener against Mater Dei on Oct. 9.
2015 opener: at Dominguez of Compton, Aug. 28
5. LOS ALAMITOS
2014: 9-2 overall, 5-0 Sunset League (1st place)
What we know: The offense is in great shape. Senior quarterback Jack Telenko was Sunset League offensive back of the year in 2014. Senior receiver Jacob Gasser was an all-league receiver last season. Dylan Laurent, Orange Coast League player of the year in ’14 as a sophomore at Estancia, transferred to Los Alamitos where he bolsters a defense that needed bolstering.
What we don’t know: That defense needs to replace three graduated linebackers including the last year’s O.C. defensive player of the year Matt Locher. The defensive line is young – two juniors and a sophomore are set to start – so that unit has to come through for the Griffins to retain the league championship.
2015 opener: vs. Paramount at Veterans Stadium, Sept. 3
6. EDISON
2014: 7-4 overall, 4-1 Sunset League (2nd place)
What we know: This will be an entertaining team. The Chargers will have one of the county’s better passing games. Senior quarterback Grant Lowary was all-league second team last year as were receivers Jacob Price and Garrett White. Scoring points won’t be a problem.
What we don’t know: Stopping opponents from scoring points might be. Edison has only two returning starters on defense. In league, Edison plays offensively excellent Los Alamitos and also faces Mater Dei in nonleague.
2015 opener: at Tesoro, Aug. 28
7. LA HABRA
2014: 7-4, 5-0 Freeway League (3rd place)
What we know: La Habra allowed 32 points a game last year. The Highlanders gave up 23 points a game in league, which historically for them is an absurdly large number. The defense will be better. The offense should be good, too, with quarterback Eric Barriere, league MVP in 2014, returning for his senior year.
What we don’t know: The Highlanders need to find a running back who is dependable. Returning All-CIF linebacker Jake Colacion might get a substantial number of carries this year. Having dominated Freeway League football for many years, La Habra might get one of its bigger challenges in a long time from Buena Park.
2015 opener: at El Toro, Aug. 28
8. JSERRA
2014: 10-2, 3-2 Trinity League (2nd place)
What we know: Last year’s breakthrough team lost several good players to graduation, and 2014 All-County first team running back Edward Vander transferred back to Paramount for his senior year. But the offensive line returns key elements and the skill position players have potential. JSerra’s freshman team was 10-0 last year so the future looks good.
What we don’t know: That good-looking future might be the 2016 season. This 2015 team might not have the defense to match up with the better offenses that the Lions will see week after week in the Trinity League.
2015 opener: vs. Cabrillo of Long Beach at Saddleback College, Aug. 28
9. SAN CLEMENTE
2014: 12-2 overall, 4-0 Sea View League (1st place)
What we know: Replacing quarterback Sam Darnold, now at USC after being county offensive player of the year in 2014, is impossible. But there are good elements to the offense, including running back Vlad Dzhabiyev who was league offensive MVP last year, and playmaking junior back Brandon Reaves. The offensive line is fine, with Donte Harrington and Tucker Scott returning from all-league seasons. Cole Fotheringham is an outstanding, under-recruited tight end.
What we don’t know: How soon the new quarterback, which likely will be junior Jack Sears, meshes with the plentiful talent around him will be interesting to monitor. The Tritons were still figuring out its defensive starters when practices resumed this month.
2015 opener: at San Juan Hills, Aug. 28
10. TESORO
2014: 9-3 overall, 3-1 South Coast League (2nd place)
What we know: This team will sparkle offensively. Senior Devon Modster, who committed to Arizona, will keep defenses on their heels with his passing and running skills. Anthony Battista is a mixture of speed and power at running back and Carter Jaenichen will rank among the county’s receptions leaders.
What we don’t know: Tesoro has only one returning starter on defense. The Titans play several teams with top quarterbacks and productive offenses. They have a challenging test in their season opener.
2015 opener: vs. Edison, Aug. 28
11. SERVITE (4-7): New coach Scott Meyer, who won CIF championships at Corona del Mar, takes over a team that had a difficult 2014 and faces a tough nonleague schedule and an equally-tough league schedule.
12. BUENA PARK (11-2): These Coyotes are better than the team that played in a CIF championship game in 2001.
13. HUNTINGTON BEACH (3-7): They might not be as good as the 2013 team that won a CIF title, but the Oilers could be one of the county’s more improved teams.
14. CORONA DEL MAR (10-2): The head coach left for Servite, but much of the coaching staff remains and the program still has fine players.
15. EL TORO (8-4): Another team with a new head coach, but there is enough talent to make a happy transition.
16. VILLA PARK (9-3): This might be the best team in a good league, the Crestview League.
17. FOOTHILL (8-4): Or, with eight returning starters on offense and six on defense, the Knights could be the favorite in the Crestview.
18. TRABUCO HILLS (10-4): The coach left and so did much talent from last year’s CIF championship team.
19. NEWPORT HARBOR (5-6): Not the greatest collection of skill players the Sailors have ever had, but the offensive line again is a Harbor strength.
20. TUSTIN (6-5): Tillers will be in the running for the Empire League championship.
21. SAN JUAN HILLS (4-7): Quarterback Patrick O’Brien emerged from the summer as a prized recruit.
22. SONORA (6-4): Raiders are optimistic, as would most teams with nine returning starters on offense and six returning starters on defense.
23. CAPISTRANO VALLEY (9-4): If the offensive line is nearly as good as the defense line, then this will be another playoff year for the Cougars.
24. VALENCIA (10-2): Five all-league selections return to a team that went undefeated in the Empire League last season.
25. FOUNTAIN VALLEY (4-6): With plenty of returning starters, the Barons will make a strong challenge for a playoff berth in the Sunset League.
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com