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Sonora football coach Andrew Cedergren viewed internal competition as one of the best ways to change the Raiders’ trajectory.
His vision knew no boundaries in the offseason.
Coming off a 1-9 campaign in 2025, the second-year coach organized his players into small groups. The objective was for the players to earn points from their performance in the weight room, the classroom and through community service.
Even cleaning the school’s farm was worth points.
The top performing team received a reward.
“We tried to have everything highly structured, have everything highly competitive,” Cedergren said. “That way, it would hopefully apply to the practice field. Hopefully it applies in the classroom, and you see results on Friday night.”
The results have been remarkable so far.
Sonora (5-0) enters its Lambda League opener against Fountain Valley (2-3) on Friday as one of 13 teams in Orange County with an undefeated record.
Friday’s game will be played at La Habra High.
“Fountain Valley is a storied program,” Cedergren said. “It’s going be real exciting for us to start league off with a really tough opponent but it will be a great test.”
Sonora has outscored opponents 192-38 and matches the team’s best start since 2015.
The Raiders are averaging 213 yards rushing per game. They have six interceptions on defense and five fumble recoveries.
“It’s really all about the players,” Cedergren said. “They made the decisions to invest, to work hard, to do all those things that it takes to succeed.”
“It’s about can we be winners in our actions, not just the scoreboard,” the coach added.
Cedergren said he learned about the offseason points system from coach Michael Echaves of Troy.
The concept, Cedergren said, aligned with his goals to inject the Raiders with more drive and accountability.
Several Sonora players have responded with strong starts to the season.
Senior running back Gabriel Burgos has rushed for 473 yards and four touchdowns while playing in the Raiders’ shotgun wing-T attack.
Burgos rushed for 105 yards and one score in a 14-0 win against Sunny Hills on Sept. 18.
Junior wide receivers Gunnar Laws, Cash Spurgeon and Matthew Shaw have combined for nine touchdown receptions on passes from junior quarterback Levi Santos.
The offense, guided by new coordinator Patrick Takkinen, is averaging 38.4 points per game.
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The defense has found success under new coordinator Geoff Ackerman, whose son Cody is a two-way lineman for Sonora.
Defensive back/linebacker Ethan Cronin, linebacker Jeremiah Dempsey-Frost and defensive end Cole Valencia are the unit’s top three players for tackles.
Valencia has a team-high two sacks.
“He has the ability to be a four-year (college) football player,” Cedergren said of Valencia, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound sophomore.
Shaw, who also plays defensive back, leads the team with four interceptions. He had an interception and 13 tackles against Sunny Hills.
Sonora has not allowed a point in 11 consecutive quarters, a streak that started against Walnut on Sept. 4.
Sonora enters Friday’s game with more depth than it had a year ago.
There are also several transfers who observed the sit-out period and became eligible this week. The group includes lineman Bryce Maynes from La Habra, wide receiver/end Daniel Kassel from Fullerton, defensive back Nick Hernandez from La Habra and safety Liam Quibuyen from La Habra.
The transfers join a hungry and unselfish roster, Cedergren said.
“They want to win. Last year was really tough,” he said. “It’s all about continuing to compete. That’s what the whole program has been built on.”
UNDEFEATED TEAMS
Orange County’s other remaining undefeated teams with 5-0 records are: Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Capistrano Valley, Corona del Mar, La Habra, Villa Park, Dana Hills, El Modena, Huntington Beach, Orange, Pacifica and Rancho Alamitos.
There are three games Friday that pit undefeated teams: Corona del Mar-Villa Park at El Modena High; La Habra at Capistrano Valley and El Modena at Huntington Beach.
Santa Margarita has won 11 consecutive games. That is the longest current winning streak in Orange County and the CIF Southern Section.
BUTKUS WATCH LIST
Linebackers Isaiah Leilua of Servite and Taven Epps of Tustin were named to the watch list for the Butkus Award. The award, established in 1985, honors the outstanding linebackers in high school, college and the NFL.
SHORT ROUTES
Transfers who had to observe the sit-out period become eligible this week. …
The Bravo League has a composite record of 27-3. The Trinity League has a composite record of 23-7. …
El Modena running back Nathan De La Vega dislocated bones in his forearm during the team’s 20-17 victory against Trabuco Hills last week, Vanguards coach Matt Mitchell said. “Doctor was hopeful that he’s out three to four weeks,” Mitchell said of De La Vega. The senior rushed for a season-high 104 yards and one touchdown against Trabuco Hills. …
Yorba Linda quarterback Noah Trujillo (shoulder) will be a game-time decision to play at San Clemente on Friday, Mustangs coach John Domen said. …
San Clemente sophomore running back Charlie Bunker burst onto the county scene last week by rushing 14 times for a season-high 126 yards and one TD in a 42-13 victory at Murrieta Valley. Bunker played on the junior varsity team earlier season, Tritons coach Jaime Ortiz said. “(He) has gotten better each week,” Ortiz said.
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