OCVarsity’s scouting report for the Orange League:
OCVARSITY PREDICTS
1. Santa Ana Valley: The Falcons are fast. Coach Larry Mohr thinks it’s the fastest team he’s had in his nine years as coach. They also have two 300-pounders playing tackle on the offensive line.
2. Anaheim: Brandon Lopez leads what should be a high-powered offense. The senior completed 53 percent of his passes last season for 898 passing yards and gained 320 yards on the ground.
3. Katella: The Knights have a strong defense that is led by inside linebacker Sebastien Demaso and defensive end Nick Hurtado. Demaso led the team last fall with 83 tackles.
4. Magnolia: The Sentinels’ have the dynamic Kalolo Pangia, who rushd for 361 yards and five TDs last season, and they return all five starters on the offensive line.
5. Savanna: The Rebels have senior quarterback Nate Gonzalez and senior guard RJ Rivera returning from injuries. Both players emerged as vocal leaders during training camp.
6. Century: An experienced defense, which features seven seniors, will be the Centurions’ strength. Look for Ruben Triscareno and Mike Soria to make big contributions.
COACHES’ POLL
1. Katella, 32 poll points
2. Santa Ana Valley, 26
3. Anaheim, 25
4. Magnolia, 23
5. Savanna, 12
6. Century, 11
How the poll works: The league coaches do the voting. First-place votes are worth 6 points, second are worth 5, etc.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Ector Loayza, Katella: He is coming off a breakout season at tackle, having been selected the league’s offensive lineman of the year. Coach Fred DiPalma said the athletic and competitive senior will play a vital role in the Knights’ offense. “He loves to run down field and get after secondary guys,” DiPalma said. Loayza plays tackle on defense too.
OTHER IMPACT PLAYERS
James Fatasia, Katella, RB: The junior rushed for 106 yards and four TDs and hauled in 13 catches for 232 yards last season.
Sherman Thomas, Santa Ana Valley, WR: The 6-2, 180-pound junior, who began his football career at Edison, makes his varsity debut with the Falcons. Coach Larry Mohr said Thomas is a potential game-changer.
Joel Motes de Oca, Anaheim, ILB/RB: He was the was third leading rusher in the league in 2014, gaining 686 yards on 99 carries.
Nate Gonzalez, Savanna, QB: He broke his left foot in the first game last season, ending his junior season. As a sophomore, he completed 18 of 43 passes for 244 yards.
Juan Augustin, Century, FS/RB: He is the Centurions’ best athlete, according to Coach Andrew Lapic. He finished last season with 47 tackles and three interceptions.
Brandon Morales, Magnolia, WR/FS: He will likely be the Sentinels’ featured receiver after hauling in 15 catches for 159 yards in 2014.
MUST-SEE GAMES
Santa Ana Valley vs. Century, Oct. 16: The league rivals will battle for bragging rights in Santa Ana.
Anaheim vs. Katella, Oct. 22: This game could determine the league championship, and will match one of the leagues’ best offenses (Anaheim) against one of the leagues’ best defenses (Katella).
Santa Ana Valley vs. Anaheim, Nov. 6: Possibly the league’s most competitive and entertaining game of the season comes in the last week of the regular season.
Contact the writer: ddottore@ocregister.com
