OCVARSITY PREDICTS
1. Estancia: The race for the league title appears to be a close one. The Eagles get the edge with their experience (13 returning starters).
2. Costa Mesa: The Mustangs went undefeated while winning the league title last season, and they should be in the mix again.
3. Godinez: Coach Aron Kaye has nine starters returning and is taking the “why not us?” approach in the quest for the league title. The Grizzlies are inexperienced at quarterback, but should be a team to watch.
4. Laguna Beach: The Breakers must find a way to replace star running back Nathan Lancaster, but they always seem to have someone waiting in the wings. They have 11 starters returning, so they could make a push for a playoff spot.
5. Calvary Chapel: The Eagles are breaking in a new quarterback, Patrick Glasgow. He should be comfortable with returning wide receiver Joey Cox. Depth is a concern.
6. Saddleback: The Roadrunners haven’t made the playoffs since 2007. With a senior-laden team, Coach Rob Thompson thinks that streak ends this year.
COACHES’ POLL
1T. Estancia, 27 poll points (3)
1T. Costa Mesa, 27 (1)
3. Godinez, 24 (1)
4. Calvary Chapel, 19
5. Laguna Beach, 18
6. Saddleback, 11 (1)
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.
IMPACT PLAYERS
Joey Cox, Calvary Chapel, WR: Cox has another year to torment opponents. Last year as a junior he caught 64 passes for 965 yards and 10 touchdowns. He will see a lot of passes his way this season.
Ethan Chesley, Laguna Beach, RB/OLB: It will be tough to find a player who can carry the Breakers as Nathan Lancaster did last season, but Chesley, a senior, shows a lot of potential.
Mason Mataafa, Costa Mesa, RB/MLB: The two-way player had a solid 2013, rushing for 500 yards and recording 59 tackles on defense as a junior. He is slated to see time on both sides of the ball for the defending league champions.
Daniel Porras, Saddleback, RB: The senior rushed for 356 yards and had 145 receiving yards last season. He is part of the senior group that Coach Randy Thompson is looking at to lead the team to a big season.
Ronnie Trujillo, Godinez, RB: Trujillo led the Grizzlies with 935 rushing yards last season and six touchdowns in eight games. A full season of Trujillo will certainly benefit the Grizzlies in their push for a playoff spot and the league title.
Ronnie Urquiza, Estancia, TE/LB: The senior is one of the key returners for the Eagles. He gained 355 all-purpose yards and was credited with 108 total tackles a year ago.
MUST-SEE GAMES
Godinez vs. Saddleback, at Segerstrom, Oct. 10: Coach Rob Thompson believes this is the year the Roadrunners strike, and it could start here in their league opener.
Costa Mesa at Estancia, Oct. 17: The annual Battle for the Bell could have league title implications. Costa Mesa defeated Estancia last season for the first time in four years.
Godinez vs. Estancia, at Segerstrom, Oct. 31: The Grizzlies figure to be in the race for the league title. This game against the Eagles comes in the next-to-last week of the regular season.
Calvary Chapel at Laguna Beach, Oct. 31: Last year’s game featured 118 points scored, setting a new county record and saw the county’s single-game individual rushing mark fall. I’m not saying they can duplicate that night, but you never know.
MORE FOOTBALL — OCVARSITY KICKOFF’14: O.C.’S BEST FAN GUIDE:
Everything you need to know about the high school football scene for 2014.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
