OCVarsity’s scouting report for the South Coast League:
OCVARSITY PREDICTS
1. Mission Viejo: The Diablos look to be good enough to repeat as league champions and as CIF-Southern Section West Valley Division champions, too. They have won 29 league games in a row, and returning All-CIF quarterback Brock Johnson and a fast, tough defense could make it 34 in a row.
2. Tesoro: This team has the best chance of ending Mission Viejo’s league wining streak, although doing so would require a win over Mission Viejo that would be considered a significant upset. The Titans are outstanding offensively with dual-threat quarterback Devon Modster and running back Anthony Battista.
3. El Toro: It looks to be a close race, between El Toro and San Juan Hills, for the league’s third and final guaranteed playoff berth. El Toro’s superiority on defense, where it has six returning starters including linebacker Dillon Sherman, should be the difference.
4. San Juan Hills: It’s great to have a returning, all-league quarterback and the Stallions have one in Patrick O’Brien. Defensively is where they need to establish themselves to contend for a playoff berth.
5. Dana Hills: New coach Phil Skinner is confident and enthusiastic. The Dolphins, 0-4 in South Coast games last year, are in a league in which a quick turnaround is very challenging.
COACHES’ POLL
1. Mission Viejo, 24 poll points (4)
2. Tesoro, 21 (1)
3. El Toro, 14
4. San Juan Hills, 11
5. Dana Hills, 1
How the poll works: The league coaches do the voting. First-place votes (shown in parentheses) are worth 5 points, second are worth 4, etc.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Patrick O’Brien, San Juan Hills: Mission Viejo and Tesoro have proven, sure-thing quarterbacks. O’Brien remains somewhat mysterious. He had an all-league junior year in 2014 when he completed 65 percent of his passes and averaged 190 passing yards a game. O’Brien impressed the college recruiters during the spring and summer, and he committed to Nebraska. If the progression continues, O’Brien could lead the Stallions to a third straight trip to the playoffs.
OTHER IMPACT PLAYERS
Jason Glass, San Juan Hills: Nose guard had 50 tackles and two sacks last year, and also starts on the offensive line.
Brock Johnson, Mission Viejo: This All-CIF quarterback has Philip Rivers’ semi-odd throwing motion; Philip Rivers is pretty good.
Colin Kentros, El Toro: One of the county’s top receivers, Kentros had 77 catches for 1,049 yards last year as a junior.
Conner McCloud, Dana Hills: The Dolphins’ only all-league returnee, McCloud rushed for 512 yards and compiled 471 punt- and kick-return yards.
Devon Modster, Tesoro: Fourth in league rushing and second in league passing last year, the quarterback’s skills present a difficult game-planning test for the league’s defensive coordinators.
MUST-SEE GAMES
Edison vs. Tesoro, Aug. 28: Much will be learned about Tesoro in this outstanding season opener.
Tesoro vs. Mission Viejo, Oct. 16: This probably could be billed, “The South Coast League Championship Game.”
San Juan Hills vs. El Toro, Oct. 16: If Tesoro-Mission Viejo is the one that decides the league championship, this one could determine which of these two teams goes to the playoffs.
El Toro vs. Dana Hills, Nov. 6: If Dana Hills upsets San Juan Hills the previous week, this one could decide the league’s third and final playoff berth.
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
