ALPHA LEAGUE PREVIEW
The Alpha League is a six-team football league that includes Edison, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, San Clemente, San Juan Hills and Yorba Linda.
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EDISON
What to expect: The Chargers went 0-3 last year in the four-team Alpha League and received an at-large berth to Division 3 of the CIF-SS playoffs. They advanced to the semifinals. All of Edison’s All-Alpha League players a year ago were seniors, so varsity experience will be lacking in the early going this season. The Chargers bring back a good one at quarterback in senior Sam Thomson, who has been the team’s starter since his freshman season. Thomson is No. 4 in the Register’s QB rankings for this season. Thomson last season completed 59 percent of his passes for 2,120 yards and 18 touchdowns with six interceptions. Also back is senior Blaise Burwell, a receiver and defensive back who also is a kick returner. Burwell committed to Colorado State. Senior running back Sam Edmisten rushed for 524 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Edison has a history of getting results better than its roster suggests.
LOS ALAMITOS
What to expect: The Griffins have a new coach in Rory Schoonmaker. He was El Segundo’s coach the past two seasons and before that he was Santa Ana’s head coach. He replaces Ray Fenton, who left after last season to take the coaching position at Orange Lutheran. Los Alamitos won the CIF-SS Division 2 championship last season. The Griffins went 12-3 overall and finished third in the Alpha League with a 1-2 record. They return a good core from that team. Senior Kamden Tillis rushed for a team-high 1,543 yards and 19 touchdowns last season and was All-Alpha League first team. Koa Marasco was named all-league second team last season after he finished second on the team in total tackles with 111. Schoonmaker brought in a new staff of coaches who brought with them new systems and styles. Schoonmaker said it could take some time for all of that to fit together.
Mission Viejo High School quarterback Brett Burnor practices with the team in Mission Viejo on Monday, July 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo High School players run plays during practice in Mission Viejo on Monday, July 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo High School quarterback Brett Burnor practices with the team in Mission Viejo on Monday, July 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo High School quarterback Brett Burnor (3) practices with the team in Mission Viejo on Monday, July 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo High School offensive line coach Sam Baker talks with players during practice in Mission Viejo on Monday, July 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo High School head coach Chad Johnson watches his team during practice in Mission Viejo on Monday, July 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo High School head coach Chad Johnson, left, and coach Rob Johnson work with the team during practice in Mission Viejo on Monday, July 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
MISSION VIEJO
What to expect: The Diablos are in position to win the league championship for the third year in a row. Among the team’s returnees are a stellar set of receivers. Senior receiver Jack Junker was All-Orange County first team and an Alpha League co-offensive player of the year last season. In 2025 he led the Diablos with 58 catches for 1,147 yards and 14 touchdowns. Junker is ranked No. 1 on the Register’s list of the county’s top receivers and tight ends for 2026. Senior Luke Karby was all-league first team with 42 receptions for 612 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Brett Burnor is the projected starter at quarterback. He threw only one varsity pass last season, a 17-yard touchdown completion. Burnor played well during the summer in 7-on-7 action. Mission Viejo will have one of Orange County’s better offensive lines. Among the group is senior Dylan Felli, who was all-league first team and second team All-Orange County last season, and Amaziah Siale (6-7, 330), who committed to LSU. Felli and Siale are on the Register’s rankings of the county’s top linemen. The Diablos defense again will have a strong secondary that includes junior Jordan Hicks, who was All-County second team last year. There will be new faces on the defensive line.
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San Clemente quarterback Preston Beck (11) poses for a portrait on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026 at San Clemente High School in San Clemente. (Photo by Claire Nguyen, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente wide receiver and safety Jaxon Rex (14) poses for a portrait on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026 at San Clemente High School in San Clemente. (Photo by Claire Nguyen, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente safety Cade Hogan (1) poses for a portrait on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026 at San Clemente High School in San Clemente. (Photo by Claire Nguyen, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente tight end Jett Wright (8) poses for a portrait on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026 at San Clemente High School in San Clemente. (Photo by Claire Nguyen, Contributing Photographer)
SAN CLEMENTE
What to expect: The Tritons have several returnees who played key roles last season when the team finished 9-5 overall and advanced to the CIF-SS Division 2 championship game. They lost to Los Alamitos, 33-20. One of them is junior Preston Beck, who emerged as the Tritons’ starting quarterback partway through the 2025 season. San Clemente was 6-1 with Beck as the starter. Beck was All-Alpha League second team last season after he completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,450 yards and 11 touchdowns. He helped the Tritons win the Ocean View Seahawk Shootout 7-on-7 passing tournament during the summer Beck is on the Register’s list of the county’s top quarterbacks. The versatile Jaxson Rex was an All-Orange County first team all-purpose selection last year. Rex, who committed to BYU, is ranked as the No. 2 receiver in Orange County by the Register. Rex last season had a team-high 63 receptions for 856 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior receiver Ryan Matheson transferred from San Juan Hills, where he had a team-high 69 receptions and was All-Bravo League second team. Junior linebacker Jack Weller was All-Alpha League first team last season. He was second on the team in total tackles with 100. Defensive back Cade Hogan was all-league second team last year. Tritons coach Jaime Ortiz is the veteran of the league. He is going into his 15th season as San Clemente’s head coach after 10 seasons as an assistant coach at the school.
SAN JUAN HILLS
What to expect: The Stallions have been promoted from the Bravo League to the Alpha league for the 2026 and ‘27 seasons. San Juan Hills forfeited several games last season because it used an ineligible player. The Stallions finished 1-9 overall and 1-4 in league; on the field San Juan Hills was 4-1 in league. San Juan Hills again will employ a pass-heavy offense. The Stallions bring back a terrific receiver, senior Luke Frith, who was All-Bravo League first team last season when he had 54 receptions for 1,048 yards – an average of 19 yards a reception – and 13 touchdowns. Frith, who committed to Texas State, also is a standout safety. He was All-Orange County all-purpose second team. His father is Robert Frith, the San Juan Hills coach who is going into his ninth season at the school after six seasons as the head coach at El Toro. Senior defensive end/tight end Maxwell Porter, a UC Davis commit, missed much of his junior season because of knee injury. Receiver/safety Cooper Chila is a returning starter who is expected to have a productive season. Noah Howell and Aaron Pluff also are returning starters. San Juan Hills will have new starters at quarterback and running back. Preston Getz and Eiler King, who both were previously in the San Clemente football program, have been competing for the starting quarterback position. Having new starters at quarterback and running back is not a preferred situation for any team going into its first season in the outstanding Alpha League.
YORBA LINDA
What to expect: The Mustangs move up to the Alpha League. They also have a new head coach, John Domen, who was promoted from assistant coach to head coach after Jeff Bailey’s exit to become the head coach at Beverly Hills High. Yorba Linda has always had a solid running game and that should continue. Junior running back Isaiah Trujillo was a Bravo League co-most valuable player last season when he rushed for 375 yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns and had 63 total tackles and a team-high three interceptions as a linebacker. His brother, Noah Trujillo, was All-Bravo League last year at quarterback. Andrew Maldonado was all-league first team last year when he had 73 total tackles. Maldonado is one of only three returning starters on defense. Yorba Linda has only four returning starters on offense, so there will be plenty of on-the-job training in nonleague games as the Mustangs prepare for battle in the tough Alpha League.
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