OCVarsity’s scouting report for the Trinity League:
OCVARSITY PREDICTS
1. Mater Dei: The Monarchs have all the pieces in place to win the league championship and contend for the Pac-5 championship. First, though, they have to settle the quarterback position and, second, they must stay healthy.
2. St. John Bosco: Last year’s league champion will be formidable, but probably not as formidable as they were the past two years.
3. Santa Margarita: Opposing teams will have to match the Eagles touchdown for touchdown to beat them. Few teams will be able to do so.
4. Orange Lutheran: If the defense is as good as the offense, the Lancers will make the playoffs and make a run at the league championship. It looks like the defense might be just about that good.
5. JSerra: It will be difficult for the Lions to match the magic of last year. Still, there is enough talent on the roster, and perhaps enough confidence, too, for a second straight trip to the playoffs.
6. Servite: It looks like a rebuilding year. But a couple of nonleague wins might kick-start the Friars toward playoff contention.
COACHES’ POLL
1. St. John Bosco, 36 poll points (6)
2. Mater Dei, 26 points
3. Santa Margarita, 23 points
4. Orange Lutheran, 21 points
5. JSerra, 12 points
6. Servite, 8 points
How the poll works: The league coaches do the voting. First-place votes (shown in parentheses) are worth 6 points, second are worth 5, etc.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
KJ Costello, Santa Margarita: He has everything one could want in a quarterback. Costello, a senior, has a strong arm and he is accurate. He has a compact delivery and a quick release. Costello is a pro-style pocket passer, but he can thrown on the run going either to his right (the easier throw for a right-hander like Costello) or to his left (he rolls left, stops and sets up smoothly and quickly). And he is tough. Costello, who committed to Stanford, has very talented receivers. He set 11 school records last year at a school that has had Mark Sanchez and Carson Palmer in its program. Costello could set even more this year.
OTHER IMPACT PLAYERS
Dylan Crawford, Santa Margarita, WR: If he contributes as expected, Crawford will have an All-County season.
Sean McGrew, St. John Bosco, RB: He rushed for 1,814 yards and 28 touchdowns as a junior last year, 2,076 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore.
Lj Northington, Orange Lutheran, QB: Northington can run, he can throw and he can drive defenses crazy.
Conor O’Brien, JSerra, DB: This third-year starting safety will be counted upon to lead the defense.
Keyon Riley, Servite, DB: Riley is quick and at 6-2, 190 larger than most high-school cornerbacks.
Curtis Robinson, Mater Dei, LB: As fast as a high-school linebacker can be, Robinson will be very disruptive to opposing offenses.
MUST-SEE GAMES
Bishop Amat vs. Mater Dei, Friday: Amat is No. 4 and Mater Dei is No. 8 in the California preseason rankings.
Mater Dei vs. Orange Lutheran, Oct. 9: This league opener for both is super-important for both teams.
JSerra vs. Santa Margarita, Oct. 16: This could be a playoffs-decider for either team, although it’s only in the second week of league play.
Santa Margarita vs. Orange Lutheran, Oct. 23: These teams might outscore their basketball teams in this one, and both schools have very good basketball teams.
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
