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The strong connections that build successful football teams form earlier at Brea Olinda.
As part of a district with one main high school and one junior high, many players forge friendships during their middle school years or even earlier.
“We’ve been playing football since Pop Warner,” Brea Olinda dual-threat quarterback Gavyn Nicholson said of several of his teammates. “The chemistry is definitely there.”
Brea Olinda will lean on that unity this fall as it moves to the new-look Epsilon League and aims for a CIF-SS championship.
Last season, the Wildcats lost to Beckman 30-24 in overtime in the Division 8 final.
The dramatic loss served as a rallying cry for Brea Olinda in the offseason. The players believe they worked harder in weight room and during practice.
“Last year is a big motivator to do better,” left tackle Nick Major said. “We want to win a (championship) this year.”
Brea Olinda enters its season-opener against Marina on Friday led by a core group of seniors who played pivotal roles in 2025.
Nicholson, a senior, leads six returning starters on offense. He passed for 1,329 yards and rushed for 1,092 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.
Major (6-2, 285) and Austin Elder (6-2, 305) are senior tackles who anchor the offensive line.
Running back Brandon Bartell, who has received recruiting interest from several Division III schools, and wide receiver Jio Kang are breakout candidates as seniors.
Brea Olinda’s experience extends to the defense with the return of leading tacker Nolan Santana. The senior collected 123 tackles, including 27 for loss, last season.
The Wildcats also return their No. 2 tackler in linebacker Nick Davis (78) along with Jaxon Simmons and Logan King in the secondary. All three players are seniors.
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Santana said the experience comes with responsibility.
“I have a lot of linebackers who are young so I got to teach them everything I know,” he said. “I feel pretty confident about our defense.”
Brea Olinda has posted consecutive 10-wins seasons under coach Justin Villasenor, who enters his third season with a 20-5 overall record.
The Wildcats’ nonleague schedule includes Cypress, Northwood, La Mirada — Villasenor’s alma mater — and Victor Valley with touted running back Makai Buchanan.
Brea Olinda’s recent success and affinity for playing on its home, grass field have stirred anticipation for the season.
“We’ve had good seasons the past two to three years and (students) are really excitement just to come to football games and watch us compete,” Elder said.
HONORE RETURNING TO MATER DEI
Former Mater Dei wide receiver Gavin Honore plans to re-enroll at the Trinity League school this week, he confirmed. The senior transferred early in the offseason to Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas.
Honore (5-10, 175) projects to be Mater Dei’s lone returning starting wide receiver. He had 23 receptions for 368 yards and two touchdowns last season.
MORE SUCCESS IN HAWAII
San Clemente, Capistrano Valley, Newport Harbor, San Juan Hills, Villa Park and Edison went a combined 6-0 in their season-opening games in Hawaii last week.
Orange County schools improved to 54-14 all-time against opponents from Hawaii, according to Orange County football historian and author Dennis Bateman.
The county’s first trek to Hawaii, Bateman discovered, was made by Rancho Alamitos in 1976.
MISSION VIEJO HOSTS TV GAME
Mission Viejo plays host to Chaparral on Friday in the CIF-SS Ford Game of the Week. The game will air on the Spectrum networks and stream on the NFHS Network. Sophomore Brett Burnor is expected to start at quarterback for the Diablos.
SHORT ROUTES
Santa Ana opens its season Thursday by playing host to Bellflower and wide receiver Austin Miller (6-5, 200) at Santa Ana Stadium. Miller, who is a sophomore, committed to Ohio State in June. Trabuco Hills plays host to Bellflower on Aug. 28. …
Orange Lutheran’s schedule is rated as the toughest in the nation, according to MaxPreps. The Trinity League school plays host to Central of Miami, Fla. at Orange Coast College on Friday before taking on Cathedral Catholic, Basha of Arizona, Serra of Gardena and Sierra Canyon in their remaining nonleague games.
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