A preview and prediction for the top football games in Orange County this week. The teams are listed by their ranking in the Orange County Top 25.
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GAME OF THE WEEK
NO. 8 TUSTIN (0-0) VS. NO. 7 SAN CLEMENTE (1-0)
Where, when: San Clemente High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Tustin is among the more talented teams in Orange County football. Seven Tillers are in the Register’s Hot 150 rankings of county football players, including BYU-committed senior Jeremiah Williams at No. 3, Washington-committed lineman Jon Ioane at No. 5 and Oklahoma-committed senior Taven Epps at No. 6. San Clemente has one of the better two-way players in the county, senior Jaxson Rex who has committed to BYU. The Tritons have the advantage of having already played a game, a 23-8 win last week over Kapa’a on the island of Kauai. Tustin beat San Clemente, 30-17, at Tustin High last season. Some county high schools have a considerable home-field advantage in football. San Clemente is one of those places.
Winner: San Clemente
CENTENNIAL (0-0) VS. NO. 5 SERVITE (0-0)
Where, when: Orange Coast College, Thursday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Servite lost to Corona Centennial twice last year. Both games were at Centennial. Thursday’s game begins a Trinity League trilogy for the Huskies. Centennial follows this game with a home game against Santa Margarita (Aug. 28) and a Sept. 11 road game against Mater Dei. This will be Rick Garretson’s first game as Servite’s head coach. He was the Friars’ offensive coordinator for several seasons under Larry Toner. Servite has speed galore. The team’s roster includes some of the sprinters from last year’s track team that won the CIF State title. Senior receiver Benjamin Harris, the state champion in the 100 meters in 2025, has committed to Oregon State. Junior receiver Kamil Pelovello, part of Servite’s state record-setting 4×100 relay team, has offers from Arizona and UCLA . Did those two get the football enough last season when Servite went 6-5 overall and 2-3 in league? Harris had 39 receptions and seven rushes last year. Pelovello had one carry and 11 receptions. Even if Servite shows in this game that its speed will be more prominent this season, Centennial looks too good. The Huskies have some great players on defense, including Washington-committed senior safety Jaden Walk-Green. He was CalHiSports’ state defensive player of the year in 2025.
Winner: Centennial
PACIFICA (0-0) VS. BECKMAN (0-0)
Where, when: Tustin High, Thursday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Two 2025 league champions meet in this season opener. Pacifica won the Omicron League championship with a 5-0 league record and advanced to the CIF-SS Division 10 semifinals. Beckman went 5-0 in the Lambda League on its way to winning the CIF-SS Division 8 championship. Pacifica has new players at key positions, including at quarterback. Senior Joseph Pham-Ngoy takes over and will be a running-passing threat. Beckman returns five starters on defense including senior linebacker Zak Hazboun and junior cornerback Xavier Musselman-Cano. Defenses often are ahead of offenses in the first week of high school football.
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Winner: Beckman
CHAPARRAL (0-0) VS. NO. 3 MISSION VIEJO (0-0)
Where, when: Mission Viejo High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Chaparral’s star quarterback, Dane Weber, a senior who is committed to Cal, won’t play in this game. He had surgery on his right hand (throwing hand), recently. Sophomore QB Caden Sterba will make his varsity debut against Mission Viejo. Even if Weber could play Friday, Mission Viejo would be the pick to win. Kameron Payne, who committed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Caleb Joy are standouts on the defensive line for the Pumas. Mission Viejo has an excellent offensive line, including All-Orange County Dylan Felli and LSU-committed Amaziah Siale. The Diablos also bring back All-County receiver Jack Junker, No. 10 on the Register’s Hot 150 list of the top county football players. The Diablos have a new starting quarterback, Brett Burnor. He looked terrific during the summer. Mission Viejo beat Chaparral, 36-21, last season in Temecula. The Diablos have won 12 of their past 13 football games at home.
Winner: Mission Viejo
NO. 17 YORBA LINDA (0-0) VS. NO. 20 LAGUNA BEACH (0-0)
Where, when: Laguna Beach High, Friday, 7 p.m.
Analysis: Yorba Linda has a new head coach. John Domen, a longtime Mustangs assistant coach who was promoted when Jeff Bailey left to coach Beverly Hills High. Some fine players are back for Yorba Linda, including All-County junior Isaiah Trujillo and his brother, senior quarterback Noah Trujillo. Laguna Beach has plenty of offensive firepower. The Breakers have All-County senior quarterback Jack Hurst who threw for a county-high 45 touchdowns last year. His top three receivers in 2025 are back, too: Brady Stringham, Wyatt Bogdan and Will Kimball. One has learned the hard way to not pick against one’s own rankings. An exception is being made here because Laguna Beach’s offense could have an opening-night sharpness that will be difficult for Yorba Linda’s defense to handle.
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Winner: Laguna Beach
Fryer on Football last season: 39-16