OCVARSITY PREDICTS
1. Westminster: With so much experience – and the league’s best player, Humberto Maciel – coming back, the Lions should be the league favorite.
2. Segerstrom: Year in, year out, the Jaguars are always in contention for the league title, and that shouldn’t change this season.
3. Ocean View: The Seahawks’ passing game has the potential to cause a lot of problems for the rest of the league.
4. Orange: With only seven returning seniors, this squad will need leaders to step up quickly if it wants to make this a successful season.
5. Santa Ana: Expect this season to lay the foundation for some good things down the road for the Saints.
6. Loara: After making the playoffs last season, a rebuilding season might be in order for the Saxons, who bring back just four starters.
COACHES’ POLL
1. Westminster, 28 poll point (3)
2. Segerstrom, 24 (1)
T3. Ocean View, 15
T3. Orange, 15
5. Loara, 12
6. Santa Ana, 11 (1)
*One coach did not vote.
How the poll works: The league coaches vote. First-place votes (shown in parentheses) are worth 6 points, second are worth 5, etc.
IMPACT PLAYERS
Kenari Drayton, Segerstrom, MLB: The 6-2, 210-pound senior registered seven sacks last season, and he should be the leader of the Jaguars’ defense.
Humberto Maciel, Westminster, RB: Maciel, a senior, is the engine that powers the Lions. Expect his rushing yards (1,455 last season) to go up this season.
Andrew Martinez, Orange, WR: The Panthers want balance on offense. In order for them to establish that, they’ll need the 6-2, 185-pound junior to play well.
Blake Meyer, Ocean View, QB: Meyer went through some growing pains last season as a sophomore, but he showed flashes of what might come this season with 16 touchdown passes.
Danny Perez, Santa Ana, RB/SS: The Saints have speed, and the senior will be put in position to show how fast he is on both sides of the ball.
Edson Velasquez, Loara, WR/SS: Velasquez posted 12 touchdown receptions last season, and the Lions need him to be their dependable target again this season.
MUST-SEE GAMES
Santa Ana Valley at Segerstrom, Aug. 29: Two of Santa Ana’s better public schools open the season against one another.
Westminster at Garden Grove, Sept. 5: Both teams reached at least the semifinals of the Southern Division playoffs last season. With the division restructured, this could be a playoff preview.
Santa Ana vs. La Quinta at Bolsa Grande, Sept. 26: This could possibly be Santa Ana’s best chance at a victory this season.
Westminster at Segerstrom, Oct. 17: The league title has gone to the Lions or Jaguars the past three years. It won’t be a surprise if one of these teams wins the league again this season.
Loara vs. Orange at Glover Stadium, Oct. 31: There are three guaranteed playoff spots in the league, the third and final one might be decided here.
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Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
