OMICRON LEAGUE PREVIEW
The Omicron League is a six-team football league that includes Buena Park, Estancia, Garden Grove, Los Amigos, Santa Ana and University.
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BUENA PARK
What to expect: The Coyotes are Omicron League returnees. Graduation stripped eight all-league players from last year’s team that tied with Woodbridge for third place with a 2-3 league record and finished 6-6 overall, but second-year head coach Mauricio Carmona is confident the new starters will keep Buena Park as a playoff-contending team. Senior defensive back Qwantino Ormellas was All-Omicron League second team last year when he finished second on the team with 43 total tackles. Senior linebacker Aiden Beltran was third in tackles last season with 38. Senior quarterback Jacob Morales saw some playing time last season. Senior running back Elias Chavez was the Coyotes’ leading rusher last year with 537 yards and seven touchdowns. Look for Buena Park’s offense to continue to rely mostly on its running game with enough passes to keep defenses honest. Defensively this will be another hard-hitting group.
ESTANCIA
What to expect: Estancia moves up from the Sigma League where the Eagles finished fourth last season with a 2-3 league record and went 6-4 overall. They have that always-desired commodity, a returning starting quarterback. Estancia senior quarterback Kai Bargas was All-Sigma League second team last season when he threw for 1,160 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior two-way lineman Andrew Ventura and senior receiver/safety Juan Silva also were All-Sigma second team. Estancia coach Mike Bargas, going into his 20th season in charge of the school’s football program, said the team’s strength will be its defense. Graduation took away some good receivers and offensive linemen, but Bargas said there could be capable replacements at both positions.
GARDEN GROVE
What to expect: The 2025 season was a rare season of struggle for the Argonauts. They went 2-8 overall and finished last in the Kappa League with a 0-5 league record. Garden Grove first-year head coach Kevin Nichols comes from Century where for the past three seasons he served as offensive coordinator. It is on offense that Nichols believes the Argonauts will have consistent success. Garden Grove senior quarterback Calvin Keovphan last season completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,397 yards and 14 touchdowns. Nichols said Keovphan will surpass those numbers this year as the Argonauts rely less on the run than they did last year when then-senior Quentin Parcelli was Orange County’s leading rusher. Senior tight end Jayden Nunez was All-Kappa League first team last year when he had 33 receptions for 393 yards and four touchdowns. Nichols looks for junior safety Carlos Garcia to lead an improved defense that gave up 38 points a game in league last year.
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LOS AMIGOS
What to expect: Only a couple of Omicron teams have offenses that emphasize the pass. The Lobos, historically a run-heavy program, could be one of them. Junior quarterback Mytrell Smith last season passed for 946 yards and five touchdowns and was all-league second team in the Sigma League in which Los Amigos tied for fourth place with Estancia with a 2-3 league record and finished 5-5 overall. Among his receivers is his brother Dennis Smith, a senior who transferred from Villa Park. Senior running back Alexis Marcelo had only six carries last season and should get many more this season. Los Amigos has only two returning starters on defense, so Coach Melo Guess, going into his sixth season in charge of Lobos football, hopes to see some quick learning going on there. Getting the Mytrell Smith-led passing offense going and steady growth from the defensive unit will be critical to chances for success at Los Amigos.
SANTA ANA
What to expect: Santa Ana promoted Jarid Allchin from assistant coach to head coach. After six seasons as a Saints assistant coach this is Allchin’s first season as a head coach. The Saints last year were 4-6 overall and 0-5 in the Iota League. Senior two-way lineman Nery De La Cruz was All-Iota League first team last season. Senior linebacker Nathan Gonzalez had a team-high 76 tackles last year. Junior linebacker Dominic Cardona was all-league second team last season when he finished second on the team in total tackles. Senior fullback/defensive lineman Troy Alvarez will be a three-year starter this season. Santa Ana will have to find some playmakers on offense if the Saints are to compete for a playoff berth.
UNIVERSITY
What to expect: Trojans’ sixth-year head coach Vince Mesa expects the team to have an entertaining offense this season. They have the quarterback to make that happen, senior Dylan Elmer. He was named to the Omicron League first team last year when he passed for 1,666 yards and 16 touchdowns as University finished fourth in the league with a 2-3 league record and went 4-6 overall. Mesa predicts a big season from senior receiver Moises Keith-Chavez. Junior receiver/defensive back Charlie Carmichael was all-league second team last season when he had five catches for 54 yards and was third on the team in total tackles with 46. Senior linebacker Deandre Miller led University in tackles last year with 67 including 11 tackles for loss. The Trojans lack depth, so a healthy season is crucial to their chances for a playoff berth.
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