YOUR GUIDE TO THE SEASON: GAME PREVIEWS, KEY PLAYERS AND MORE!
Dana Hills football is looking to take its next step.
The program’s first two years under head coach Tony Henney have been inarguably successful for the Dolphins, especially in the context of their history.
Dana Hills has qualified for the CIF-SS playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since the program’s last playoff appearances in 2012-13. The Dolphins have done that by resetting their offensive focus each season as they graduated star talent. Dana Hills posted school-record passing numbers with quarterback Bo Kelly in 2021 and boasted Orange County’s leading rusher with Christian Guarascio in 2022.
However, the Dolphins have hit a wall in the first round of each of their postseason appearances, and as Henney looks to not just fill holes each year but continue building his program, it’s natural to ask how and where to grow this program to reach its next level of development.
“I feel like we just haven’t gotten over the
next step, and that we have to keep trying,” Henney said. “We hit a ladder, and we’re stuck on a step right now. From a coaching aspect, whether it’s a kid, a group of kids, a grade of kids, they have to be the ones that accelerate it to the next level, and you’ll have another few step jump when that happens.”
Henney says he sees that next-level potential in his sophomore class, which not only has the talent but the “juice” or confidence to themselves. There will be integral sophomore contributions from a physical presence such as Charlie Eckl or a playmaking ability such as James Leicester.
Add that to returning senior playmakers including Noah Kucera, Chase Berry and Deacon Hills or the continued development of line strength in Nate DePierro and Kevin Garcia, and Dana Hills can turn its eyes to a next-level goal—not just winning seasons or playoff appearances but championships.
“We want to be the third Dana Hills team to ever win a league championship,” Henney said. “If we’re going to take that next step, that sounds like a solid next step to me.”
Dana Hills has never won an outright football league championship in the school’s 50-year history.
The Dolphins have split league titles twice—a Sea View League title in 2012 and a Pacific Hills league title in a pandemic-delayed, two-game league schedule for the 2020 season. Dana Hills also hasn’t made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons at any point this century or won a playoff game since 2009.
Winning consistently and expectations of winning consistently comprise that next level to which Henny is looking to take the Dana Hills program.
“We need to win a league championship, and we need to breed a tradition of that’s what we’re aiming to do,” Henney said.
Dana Hills undeniably has some offensive weapons.
The Dolphins return their top two receivers in seniors Chase Berry and Noah Kucera. Berry, the top receiver last season, will start the season on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, but he’s expected to return by league play. While both players came over as transfers from San Juan Hills last season, Kucera had to sit out a bit longer than Berry, but they still nearly had equal yardage production. Berry became a go-to scoring option with 10 touchdown receptions, and Kucera reeled in five touchdown catches.
Kucera will be the top target, and he’ll be joined for early-season reps by sophomore James Leicester, who emerged over the offseason at the outside receiver spot when Berry went down.
“He had some moments where he looked like a sophomore, and he had moments where he grew up,” Henney said. “The joke with him Is that he turned into a ‘dog’ over the summer, but he’s a little dog. So, his nickname is ‘Poodle’.”
Another emerging target is Nikolis Grguric, who is going out for football for the first time as a senior after starring for the Dana Hills basketball team last winter. Grguric’s 6-foot3, 210-pound frame and box-out basketball instincts are a perfect fit at the tight end spot,
where Nate DePierro moves out for full-time duty on the offensive line.
That offensive line showed off the dividends of a long offseason in the weight room last year by carving up holes for Christian Guarascio’s county-leading rushing numbers. DePierro is one of three returning starters up front alongside fellow seniors Kevin Garcia and Sebastian Becerril-Pastrana. They’ve only gotten stronger and should solidify that group.
The hopeful beneficiary of that line play is senior running back Deacon Hill, who was an impact player on defense last season but carried the ball only 12 times playing behind Guarascio. Hill still averaged nearly four yards per carry in limited work. Guarascio’s production is also a potential model for Hill, as Guarascio jumped from 612 yards rushing on 100 carries as a junior to 1,891 yards on 263 carries as a junior.
All of this talk of the skill positions without yet
mentioning who’s behind center, and that’s because it’s the only position without any proven measurables yet.
Senior Myles Van Wyhe steps up into the role with just one single varsity snap to his name, and if the Dana Hills offense is going to live up to the potential its other positions portend, Van Wyhe is going to have to click in. However, Henney described Van Wyhe as an “extremely hard worker” and knows patience will be the key to getting this offense going.
“I feel like Myles has really come along,” Henney said. “He still has a long way to go, and there’s going to be a grace period. He’s never started a game. He’s only played one play of a varsity game. He’s going to have some moments that maybe aren’t so good, but you have to coach him up and keep his confidence up.”
To also ease the pressure on Van Wyhe, Henney also noted the Dolphins will have to find
a way to run the ball, and again, Hill stands to benefit with that early focus as Dana Hills builds toward balance.
“There’s always two ways to measure balance—how many times you rush and throw it, and the other is how many people are getting the ball,” Henney said. “I feel like with the distribution of the ball, we’re going to have great balance, because I feel good about most of the skill guys touching the ball.”
It may not be another record-making statistical season, but Dana Hills has more than enough weapons to find something that works.
As mentioned previously, the biggest offseason focus over the past two summers for Dana Hills has been the weight room, particularly for the Dolphins’ line play.
It showed up last year in the running game, and it looks to show up this year in the defen-
“We need to win a league championship, and we need to breed a tradition of that’s what we’re aiming to do.”
– Head Coach Tony HenneyDana Hills’ offensive strength is in the wide variety of options at the skill positions. Photo: Zach Cavanagh
sive line pressure.
“We are the strongest that we’ve been since I’ve been here,” Henney said. “Hopefully, that breathes some confidence into them.”
That group on the line is returning starters in DePierro and Mitch Hill along with super sophomore Charlie Eckl, who Henney said has the potential to be the best player in Dana Hills program history. Behind the line, there are also returning impact starters in senior linebackers Dominic Barto and Noah Brown.
That group showed sparks of pressure last season with three sacks each from DePierro and Brown and two sacks from Barto, but the Dolphins will need consistent pressure from their front seven to relieve some pressure off a young defensive secondary.
“The X-factor is going to be the defensive front seven,” Henney said.
“If that group plays at a level that I believe they can play, they’re going to make the job easier on the secondary. They’re going to make the job easier on the offense with field position.”
Every year since Dana Hills football’s move from the traditional confines of the Sea View and South Coast Leagues has seen incredibly tight races in the Pacific Coast Conference, whether the league itself was called the Pacific Hills or Pacific Coast League.
While last year’s Pacific Coast League featured two eventual CIF-SS champions, including a state champion and state runner-up in Laguna Hills and Northwood, respectively, like Dana Hills, each of the returning teams to the league is without its star running backs each team relied on for success.
Last season, two unstoppable forces ran into each other—Guarascio and Laguna Hills’ Troy Leigber—and it was Leigber who bowled over the Dolphins with 225 yards and five touchdowns. However, Leigber is now at UCLA, and the Hawks will be easier to handle.
It was a similar result with Northwood’s Adam Harper running for 342 yards and four touchdowns a week later, but Harper is also out of the Dolphins’ way after graduating.
The league swaps Irvine for Portola, and while Portola returns its top players, Dana Hills has been successful against the Bulldogs since coming into the conference.
The league is up for grabs as everyone reloads.
The reload period for Dana Hills isn’t going to be about replacing talent or developing playmakers. For the Dolphins, the early portion of the season will be about meshing those talented playmakers into a cohesive unit.
“I think we know the direction we need to go and the style we need to play,” Henney said. “I think we have a pretty good grasp on how to get better with what we have. I think that the one thing that’s hard with coaches is sometimes you have to have the patience to let some of that play out, especially with the young guys.”
It’s those young guys who will push Dana Hills beyond single years of standout talent and into generational cycles that replenish and raise the program. Henney and the Dolphins won’t be skipping any steps on the ladder, and they recognize the work ahead.
“We just learned that we have a long way to go,” Henney said. “After spring, we thought that. After summer practice, we thought that. We just have to keep getting better. I know that sounds cliché, but it just is. This kid improved, this kid improved; is it enough to win a league championship?”
Whether it is enough for a league title or not, it’s that mindset that Dana Hills needs to push itself to the next level and raise the program to a new standard of excellence.
WR, Sr.
As a junior transfer from San Juan Hills last season, Berry quickly established himself as the Dolphins’ deep threat with over 13 yards per reception and a team-high 13 touchdown catches. He’ll begin the year on the sidelines with an injury, but when league play rolls around, look for Berry downfield.
KEVIN GARCIA
OL, Sr.
Garcia is a leader on an offensive line that has continued its commitment to the weight room. The focus produced dividends last year with the Dolphins’ punishing rushing attack. Garcia’s 6-foot-4, 275-pound frame will help lock down the outside pressure as Dana Hills establishes its new quarter-
RB, Sr. Hill didn’t get many offensive touches last season, as Dana Hills’ running game went entirely through county-leading rusher Christian Guarascio, but Hill will push for a similar jump in production. Hill still averaged nearly four yards per carry, and there might be more space in the Dolphins’ more balanced offense.
NOAH KUCERA
WR, Sr.
Kucera played only half a season last year due to his transfer from San Juan Hills, but when active, he became the most dynamic receiving threat Dana Hills had. Kucera nearly equaled Berry’s leading production in less time. Kucera will step up as the Dolphins’ playmaker in a balanced attack.
OL, Sr.
Becerril-Pastrana is one of three returners on an offensive line that paved the way for a county-leading run game. Becerril-Pastrana will help carve up lanes on the inside with his 6-foot-3, 280-pound frame. Dana Hills has had a continued focus on its physicality up front, and Becerril-Pastrana will bring it.
LB, Sr.
Barto was one of Dana Hills’ top tacklers last season and is part of a handful of returning starters that will lead on the defensive side. Barto was fourth on the team with 48 tackles last year, including 33 solo tackles. Barto also contributed two sacks and an interception.
LB, Sr.
Brown had a knack for coming up with big plays with a physical edge from that second layer of the defense. Brown led the Dolphins with three sacks and two fumble recoveries and racked up 22 tackles. He will help lead the defense as part of an experienced linebacker corps.
DL, Sr.
DePierro is turning his full focus to line play this season, and he could be a force for the Dolphins. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound junior will use his length to control the defensive side and bring that extra pressure the Dolphins have lacked. DePierro also moves to the offensive line from tight end.
DE, Soph.
Dana Hills head coach Tony Henney says that Eckl has the potential “to be the best player in school history.” No pressure for the sophomore, who made only three tackles on varsity as a freshman. Eckl stands at 6-foot-4, and with a 435-pound deadlift, he can add strength to the defensive line.
DL, Sr.
Hill is another element of a strong defensive line for Dana Hills. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior is a returning starter who pulled together 39 tackles as a junior, including 19 solo tackles. To help a young secondary, Dana Hills will rely on Hill and the defensive line to get quarterback pressure.
Coach: Vince Mesa
2022 Record: 3-7 (1-2 Pacific Valley League)
2022 vs. DH: DH win, 21-14
Season Outlook:
The Trojans have shown marginal improvement over the past few seasons, boosting their 2022 win total by one from the previous year. They also claimed a signature win in defeating Beckman at home to avoid going winless in the Pacific Valley League. University will also have seniority on their side, as its leading passer, receiver, rusher and tackler all return.
Jai Williams, a senior and two-way player who totaled 420 rushing yards and 75 tackles, will be a player to watch, along with quarterback Koa Saito and receiver Blaine Anderson.
Coach: John Shanahan
2022 Record: 11-4 (3-0 Pac-4 League)
2022 vs. DH: DH win, 28-24
Season Outlook: Laguna Beach followed its 2021 campaign with another strong offensive year in 2022.
The Breakers rebounded from consecutive losses at the start of the season to win 11 of their next 12 games and take home the CIF-SS Division 9 Championship, beating Diamond Bar, 36-28. This year, BYU tight end commit Ryner Swanson and highly recruited junior quarterback Jackson Kollock are back to potentially lead their team to a state title.
Even so, Laguna Beach hasn’t defeated the Dolphins since 2018.
Coach: Scott Meyer
2022 Record: 4-6 (2-3 Moore League)
2022 vs. DH: Did Not Play Season Outlook:
The Bruins from Long Beach certainly experienced the full gamut of emotions during Moore League play last season. Woodrow Wilson was shut out twice by Long Beach Poly and Lakewood in blowout fashion, found itself on the right side of two nail-biters, and put up 57 points on winless Cabrillo. Senior running back Christian Chapman will likely be responsible for most of the offensive success the Bruins see in 2023, as he ran for 1,206 yards and 10 scores last year.
Coach: Jason Presley
2022 Record: 2-8 (0-3 North Hills League)
2022 vs. DH: Did Not Play
Season Outlook:
The Aztecs closed out 2022 with four consecutive losses, with an average margin of defeat of 38.5 points. To find any success this season, Esperanza must find a successor to running back Jesse Deunsing, who totaled 1,582 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022 and has since graduated.
Aaron Forsgren, a senior who rushed for the second-most yards last year, may be the one to pick up the mantle.
Coach: Aaron Craver
2022 Record: 5-6 (2-1 Pacific Valley League)
2022 vs. DH: DH win, 38-26
Season Outlook:
Woodbridge graduated its leading rusher and its top three receivers and tacklers in the spring.
Fortunately, Edward Ma is back for his final season at quarterback, but he’ll need to improve his touchdown-to-interception ratio for Warriors to continue winning games. Ma threw for 1,824 yards and 15 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions in 2022.
Coach: Phil Hughes
2022 Record: 9-3 (2-1 North Hills League)
2022 vs. DH: Did Not Play
Season Outlook:
The Comanches had a successful 2022 campaign, finishing 8-2 in the regular season and making the second round of the playoffs. Christian Lundsberg, who is off to Southern Utah after throwing for 4,066 yards and 54 touchdowns his senior year, leaves behind a gaping hole in Canyon’s quarterback room.
In comes Corin Rynders, who started two games for Canyon in 2021 but otherwise is green, and he will need surrounding help to replace a senior-laden offense.
The Comanches’ coaches will look to linebackers DJ Knupp and Noah Eckenrode for defensive production.
Coach: Tom Ricci 2022 Record: 4-6 (0-3 Pacific Coast League)
2022 vs. DH: DH win, 50-49
Season Outlook:
The last time these two teams met, it was an offensive shootout that saw Dana Hills convert a two-point attempt to end the game in the first overtime.
While Irvine’s bellcow from that season, Evan Hasegawa, has now moved on, quarterback Joseph Tierney returns to lead the Vaqueros. Junior Deacon Moss projects to play a significant role as both a receiver and defensive back.
Coach: John Lester 2021 Record: 15-1 (2-1 Pacific Hills League)
2022 vs. DH: LH win, 42-21
Season Outlook: Laguna Hills running back Troy Leigber’s six-touchdown performance against the Dolphins was emblematic of what he did all year for the Hawks, rushing his way to earning Orange County Offensive Player of the Year. Leigber, now a preferred walk-on at UCLA, was a major contributor to his team’s remarkable run in 2022. The Hawks defeated Golden Valley to claim the CIF-SS Division 7 title and edged Bellarmine by one point in the CIF State Division 3-A championship. Replacing 2,695 yards and 44 touchdowns of production will be a Herculean task.
Coach: Peter Abe
2021 Record: 4-8 (2-1 Pacific Valley League)
2022 vs. DH: DH win, 42-22
Season Outlook:
The Bulldogs were an overtime loss from exiting Pacific Valley League play undefeated, and they overcame some non-league beatdowns to find success in the playoffs. Portola returns its leading passer, rusher, and top three receivers, which should help the team build on last season’s results.
Coach: JC Clarke
2022 Record: 14-2 (3-0 Pacific Coast League)
2022 vs. DH: Portola win, 37-20
Season Outlook: Northwood steamrolled its opponents in 2022 to capture its second straight CIF-SS championship and second title in program history. The Timberwolves relied on senior running back Adam Harper’s 2,020 rushing yards to take them to the State Division 4-AA title game. Now that the Pacific Coast League is without three dominant running backs in Harper, Troy Leigber and Christian Guarascio, defensive coaches can breathe a sigh of relief, and offensive staffs are determining their next move.