Kickoff '09: Orange League

COACHES POLL

1. Western, 10-4 in 2007, 34 poll points

2. Santa Ana Valley, 6-6, 27

3. Magnolia, 6-5, 20

4. Anaheim, 5-7, 18

5. Savanna, 3-7, 17

6. Century, 2-8, 10

(*Teams receive 6 points for a first-place vote, 5 points for a second-place vote, etc.)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Santa Ana Valley. The Falcons are going to factor into this season’s league championship race, returning 13 players who are varsity lettermen. One of them is Darius Nacoste, a senior running back who rushed for more than 1,800 yards and scored 23 touchdowns last year.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Century. The Centurions have a new coach, Ted Crego, and not a lot of experience at some key skill positions. Only five of the Centurions’ projected 11 offensive starters are seniors.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Ruben Ortega. The Western senior is one of the most talented players in the Orange League, and the running back/linebacker might be among the best athletes in the county. The All-County second-team linebacker was the league MVP in 2008 after helping the Pioneers reach the second round of the Southwest Division playoffs. He scored 19 touchdowns and rushed for 1,391 yards in 12 games. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder, who can power-clean 300 pounds, also is projected to be the Pioneers’ starting middle linebacker

OTHER TOP PLAYERS

Anaheim: RB/LB Hugo Hernandez; RB/LB Kevin Dawson; QB Phillip Marquez

Century: OLB Josh Salgado; C Jesus Agustin; RB/LB Ricky Canales

Magnolia: OT/DT Mario Martinez; G Dominic Lopez; G Cesar Soria; WB/DE Trevor Ofisa; DT Misikei Misikei; TB/FS Devante Bates

Santa Ana Valley: QB Carlos Acevedo; RB Darius Nacoste; T Albert Ochoa; DE Alex Gutierrez

Savanna: RB Donald Livingston; RB Donevin Washington; WR Vincent Van Keekan; QB Jeremiah Rideaux

Western: TE Ken Davis; TE/MLB Pete Foo Chong; OLB Dominic Orman

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Western vs. Santa Ana Valley, at Santa Ana Stadium, Nov. 7, 1 p.m.: This will be the final meeting between the two league powers, and this game could very well determine who wins the championship.

TOUGHEST SCHEDULE

Western. The Pioneers will face Tustin, which reached the CIF-SS Southwest Division title game in 2008, and Stanford-bound Anthony Wilkerson on Oct. 1. The Pioneers also have Fullerton, Valencia and Marina on their nonleague schedule.

OTHER LEAGUE PREVIEWS:

Century League

Empire, Freeway leagues

Garden Grove, Golden West leagues

Orange, Orange Coast leagues

Pacific Coast, Sea View leagues

South Coast and Sunset leagues

Trinity league, small schools