Orange County football preview: Santa Margarita ranked No. 1 in Top 25

Santa Margarita finished last season as the No. 1 football team in Orange County.

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The Eagles start the 2026 season in the same position. Until someone knocks them out of the No. 1 chair, there the Eagles remain.

What teams are candidates to replace Santa Margarita in the No. 1 spot? Who else is an Orange County Top 25 team? How do they all stack up?

Let’s take a look at the Orange County preseason Top 25.

PRESEASON TOP 25

1. Santa Margarita: The Eagles were a senior-heavy team last year when they won CIF Southern Section Division 1 and CIF State Open Division championships. Some good players return, including senior two-way lineman Isaia Vandermade, junior cornerback Ca’ron Williams and senior tight end Luke Gazzaniga. Carson Palmer, going into his second season as the Eagles’ coach, has himself a team that again might be of championship quality.

2. Mater Dei: A strange myth exists that the Monarchs have tumbled into mediocrity because they were 8-3 last season … when they lost to CIF State Open Division champ Santa Margarita by one point and to CIF-SS Division 1 finalist Centennial in two away games by a total of eight points. Mater Dei’s defense, featuring standout senior cornerback Danny Lang (USC commit), could be the best unit in Orange County. To challenge for the Trinity League championship the Monarchs will need steady play from quarterbacks Russell Sekona, a junior, and senior Cameron Pooley, both of whom are transfers.

3. Mission Viejo: An excellent offensive line is the foundation for a successful football team, and the Diablos have that with Dylan Felli and Amaziah Siale among their group. At quarterback will be sophomore Brett Burnor, who has almost zero varsity game experience but looked good during summer 7-on-7 passing league activity. The Diablos defense has a splendid secondary led by Jordan Hicks.

4. Orange Lutheran: The Lancers have a new head coach, Ray Fenton, who last year led Los Alamitos to the CIF-SS Division 2 championship. They have two good returning quarterbacks, senior Reagan Toki and sophomore Ezrah Brown, and Fenton likes them both so much that they will see equal or near-equal playing time. Orange Lutheran’s secondary, which features Chauncey Washington II, twins Anhor and King Johnson and All-Trinity League first-team returnee Matthew Zapien, could be the strength of its defense.

5. Servite: The Friars have a new coach, Rick Garretson, who was the team’s offensive coordinator for many years before moving to Arizona and winning a state championship there. The key to Servite’s success could be getting the ball in the hands of its many speedy players. Receivers Benjamin Harris and Kamil Pelovello, along with running back Jorden Wells, helped Servite win the CIF State track and field championship this past spring. Junior Allen “Cinco” Kennett and senior Isaiah Leilua are elite linebackers.

6. Crean Lutheran: This program improves year after year, and this could be the best Saints football team yet. They have a star quarterback returning in Caden Jones, who was All-Orange County first team last season and is No. 1 in the Register’s Hot 150 ranking of county football players. Crean’s defense has size and speed, including senior linebacker Ahmeer Williamson, a transfer from St. John Bosco, and junior lineman Nasir Walker, who moved to the area from South Carolina.

7. San Clemente: Senior Jaxson Rex is among the better two-way players in Orange County and is a big-play guy in every way. Junior quarterback Preston Beck took over the position partway through last season and was outstanding, setting the table for a potentially splendid 2026 season. His top receiver targets will be Rex and senior Ryan Matheson, who led San Juan Hills in receptions last season. Junior linebacker Jack Weller was All-Alpha League first team last year when the Tritons were CIF-SS Division 2 finalists.

8. Tustin: The Tillers have talent galore. Senior defensive lineman Jeremiah Williams (6-2, 310) is a problem for any opposing offense, as are lineman Jon Ioane, linebacker Taven Epps and defensive back Khalil Terry. The Tillers offense has all of the tools to excel, including rising junior quarterback Ayden Edwards and acrobatic junior receiver Hayden Koo.

9. Corona del Mar: The Sea Kings have plenty of returning players from last year. Among them are junior receiver JJ Haley and defensive back Tucker Murray, who were both first-team all-league in 2025. Another returnee is senior running back Chase Kuchera, who could see plenty of daylight in front of him thanks to a big and experienced offensive line that includes junior Markus Costa.

10. San Juan Hills: The Stallions like to throw the football and should be successful at that again this season. Senior receiver Luke Frith was All-Bravo League first team last year when he had 54 receptions and averaged 19 yards a catch. Senior defensive end/tight end Maxwell Porter missed last season because of a knee injury but is ready to have a productive 2026 season.

11. Los Alamitos: The Griffins, who won the CIF-SS Division 2 championship last season, have a new coach, Rory Schoonmaker, and a good group of returnees, including senior running back Kamden Tillis.

12. Huntington Beach: The Oilers have offensive weapons aplenty, led by Ohio State-committed senior quarterback Brady Edmunds and a defense that could be better than it was last year.

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13. Edison: The Chargers have an outstanding quarterback, senior Sam Thomson, who will be a four-year starter, and a solid running game led by senior back Sam Edmisten.

14. La Habra: The Highlanders have several major contributors back from last season’s CIF-SS Division 4 championship team, including senior running back Kevika Mata’utia Martinez and senior quarterback DJ Mitchell Jr.

15. Capistrano Valley: Dual-threat quarterback Talon Spencer was the Delta League offensive player of the year last season.

16. Yorba Linda: The Mustangs have a new coach, John Domen, who was promoted from assistant coach to replace Jeff Bailey. They also have an outstanding two-way player in junior running back/linebacker Isaiah Trujillo.

17. Villa Park: The Spartans defense has a few returning stars, including senior linebacker Maverick DeClark and senior safety Sean Byrnes.

18. Western: The Pioneers’ offense has two fine receivers, senior Ayden Payne (Oregon State-commit) and junior Tywon Nesby. The defense brings in senior lineman Hunter Eligon (6-3, 290), a transfer from Los Alamitos who was All-Alpha League first team last year.

19. Laguna Beach: Senior quarterback Jack Hurst threw a county-high 45 touchdown passes last year. The team’s top three receivers last season, Brady Stringham, Wyatt Bogdan and Will Kimball, also return.

20. Newport Harbor: The Sailors bring back senior tight end/linebacker Owen Baldikoski, who was All-Bravo League first team last year, and all-purpose senior Jackson Stremick.

21. El Modena: Senior quarterback Ethan Sorenson is a dual-threat player, and running back Arnol Correa is another of the Vanguards’ six returning starters on offense.

22. Dana Hills: The Dolphins lost a plethora of players to graduation, but a good one coming back is junior quarterback Carter Anderson.

23. Orange: Junior quarterback Star Thomas III threw for a county-high 3,332 yards last season and rushed for 800 yards.

24. Aliso Niguel: Among the returnees for the Wolverines are junior receiver Brody Blasing and senior defensive lineman Cash Jackson, both All-Foxtrot League first team selections last year.

25. Brea Olinda: The Wildcats should be good along the offensive and defensive lines. Senior two-way lineman Austin Elder, who was All-Kappa League first team last year, is among the leaders for a team that was a CIF-SS Division 8 finalist last season.

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