OCVarsity Kickoff ’15 preview: JSerra

JSerra lineman Luke Wattenberg
JSerra lineman Luke Wattenberg will be a key player for the Lions in the upcoming season.
JSerra lineman Nick Harris
JSerra’s Nick Harris is part of an offensive line that is loaded with talent.
JSerra defensive back/running back Avery Williams
JSerra is hoping that Avery Williams can be a two-day threat for the Lions this season. He could be a starter at defensive back and running back.
JSerra defensive back/receiver Conor O'Brien
JSerra defensive back/receiver Conor O'Brien is one of the few returning starters on the Lions’ defense.
JSerra linebacker Kyle Adams
JSerra’s Riley O'Brien could play several positions this season, including quarterback. He might also see time at receiver and he will start at cornerback.
JSerra’s Riley O'Brien

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By Steve Fryer | sfryer@scng.com | Orange County Register

August 25, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.

OCVarsity preview for the 2015 season:

JSERRA LIONS

Coach: Jim Hartigan

Last season: 10-2 overall, 4-1 league

Scouting report: Graduation extracted many top players from the Lions’ 2014 breakthrough season, and All-County running back Edward Vander returned to Paramount for his senior year. The roster still has plenty of fine players especially at offensive line where there are all-league tackle Luke Wattenberg and center Nick Harris; both committed to Washington. The defense features six returning starters and an excellent secondary that has third-year starter Conor O’Brien, who was all-league last year, Riley O’Brien, who started last year, and Avery Williams, who transferred from St. Francis of La Canada. The defensive line has little varsity experience. Riley O’Brien has been competing with Matt Robinson for the starting quarterback position. Robinson’s brother Nick was a Trinity league co-most valuable player as a JSerra senior last year. Coach Jim Hartigan, the Register’s 2014 county coach of the year, said the competition could continue through the first week the season.

Bottom line: JSerra beat Mater Dei, finished second in the Trinity League, and won a playoff game in 2014. Duplicating any of that seems unlikely, but then nobody thought the Lions could do what they did last year.

Players to watch: Conor O’Brien, DB, Sr.; Riley O’Brien, QB/DB, Jr.; Corey Selenski, TE/LB, Sr.; Luke Wattenberg, OL, Sr.; Avery Williams, RB/DB, Sr.

JSERRA ROSTER

JSERRA SCHEDULE

Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com