2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW SAN JUAN thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022 Page 13 YOUR GUIDE TO THE SEASON: TEAM PREVIEWS, KEYANDPLAYERSMORE!
By varying circumstances, each of San Juan Capistrano’s high school football teams has been put in the hands of its young players, with many sophomores and juniors in the spotlight. Photo: Zach Cavanagh
Quarter BY ZACH CAVANAGH
YOUTH MOVEMENTS ABOUND FOR CITY’S HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMS but the league allows St. Margaret’s to directly challenge for a CIF-SS playoff berth. Capistrano Valley Christian boasts what may be its biggest roster in program history, enabling the Eagles to also play their first junior varsity games in school history. Like their former league rival St. Margaret’s, CVC has also joined a new league, as it banded together with other similarly positioned small schools to form a new conference. This gives the Eagles an avenue to avoid the fate of last season’s successful freelance team that didn’t make the CIF-SS playoffs. Now, like St. Margaret’s, CVC controls its own destiny for the CIF-SS playoffs. It’s all just around the corner, as three teams kick off next week. San Juan Hills gets the spotlight as the CIFSS Game of the Week when the Stallions host Santa Margarita on Friday, Aug. 19, at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Bally SportsJSerraWest.opens at home against last season’s playoff opponent, Sierra Canyon, on Aug. 19, and St. Margaret’s gets the festivities going a day earlier on Thursday, Aug. 18, at Ontario Christian.Aftertheir Week 0 opponent canceled, Capistrano Valley Christian pushes forward with a nine-game slate that gets going on Aug. 25 against Calvary Chapel at Segerstrom High School in Santa Ana. Check out each of our season previews for San Juan Capistrano’s four high school squads, and get ready for another wild season of Southern California high school football.Set… hike! back Michael “Butter” Tollefsen also holds 14 Division 1 college offers from all reaches of the SEC, Pac-12, Big 10 and beyond. JSerra will play in the most high-profile games of the season in San Juan Capistrano with one of the toughest schedules in the entire nation. The Lions were young last year, and while they gained experience, there are still plenty of sophomores and juniors who will take on the rigors of the Trinity League. However, there’s a chance that JSerra isn’t all that far away from some big accomplish ments.St.Margaret’s has its own young roster after graduating many impact players from last season’s CIF-SS Division 9 Finalist. The Tartans also have another new challenge as they move up into the Orange Coast League to battle some of the county’s largest public schools, t’s just about time to fire up those Friday Night Lights once again across San Juan Capistrano. (Along with the occasional Thursday Night Lights, or the once-in-a-while Saturday After noonFootballSun.) is back in South Orange County, and San Juan Capistra no’s four high school teams are all bastions of incredibly exciting youth movements.Attheforefront is the city’s lone public school, San Juan Hills, which is home to two of the most high-profile sophomores in all of Orange County. Linebacker Weston Port was named a Freshman All-American by MaxPreps and holds 18 Division 1 college offers after offseason visits to Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan and BYU, among others.
I
thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022 Page 14
•••SEPTEMBER 2 ROOSEVELT (EASTVALE) Roosevelt HS, 7 p.m.
•••OCTOBER 28 ALISO NIGUEL* SJHHS, 7 p.m. *Sea View League game
thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022 Page 15 an Juan Hills has a stable of young Stallions ready to take hold of this football team and charge back to the CIF-SS playoffs. Last season was a disappointment for San Juan Hills by most objective mea sures. The Stallions lost a handful of close contests against an incredibly tough schedule, and despite a Division 3-level power rating, a 3-7 record kept San Juan Hills out of CIF-SS’ new playoff system. San Juan Hills head coach Rob Frith has his gripes about the playoff model, which is based off in-season calpreps.com power ratings and slots teams into playoff divisions immediately after the regular season, but he says the team was able to turn the page quickly last year. “As soon as the season was over, we moved on,” Frith said. “Got back in the weight room, started the process all over again and just focused on ourselves. Whether you go 3-7 or win a CIF championship, you have to erase it and start all over again. Some years, you roll with momentum or sometimes you have to build momentum.”
Tollefson, who enters the season with 14 Division 1 offers also from the SEC, Pac-12, Big 10, ACC and more, has a new group of receivers to integrate with, along with Brayden Bockler, a senior returner at tight end. Bockler is the only returning player to actually catch a varsity pass lastIt’llseason.stillbe tough sledding early for San Juan Hills with the same extremely competitive schedule as last season, but league play will be an easier task as the Stallions drop down to the Sea View League. Despite having only three home games, San Juan Hills should make its way back to the playoffs this season. San Juan Hills opens the season at home against Santa Margarita out of the Trinity League on Friday, Aug. 19. The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports West as the CIF-SS Game of the Week.
•••AUGUST 25 CYPRESS Western HS, 7 p.m.
•••SEPTEMBER 15 CORONA DEL MAR Newport Harbor HS, 7 p.m.
•••SEPTEMBER 23 EL MODENA SJHHS, 7 p.m.
•••SEPTEMBER 9 YORBA LINDA Yorba Linda HS, 7 p.m.
•••OCTOBER 14 EL TORO* El Toro HS, 7 p.m.
While San Juan Hills lost its entire starting receiving corps to graduation and NCAA Division 1 opportunities, it feels as if San Juan Hills is rolling with momentum, as well as building. The Stallions grabbed national attention over the offseason for its two best players, who just happened to be freshmen last season: sophomore quarterback Michael “Butter” Tollefson and sophomore linebacker Weston Port. Port, listed at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, was named a first-team Freshman All-American by Max Preps and enters his sophomore year with 18 Division 1 offers, including offseason visits to Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, BYU and Utah. Port has offers from the Pac-12, SEC, ACC, Big 10 and beyond. “It was super fun seeing all the schools and stuff,” Port said. “It’s really cool just to build connec tions with coaches and see the campuses. It’s a good building experience. … I don’t really focus on the media and everything that’s happening around me. I just focus on what I can control.”
BY ZACH CAVANAGH around the San Juan Hills defensive front. Offensively, San Juan Hills is now completely in the hands of Tollefson. Tollefson was part of a three-way quarterback battle last season and took the reins for good starting in the fifth game of his freshman season. He finished with a 60% completion rate, 1,307 yards passing, 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
•••SEPTEMBER 30 TESORO Tesoro HS, 7 p.m.
S San Juan Hills looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2021 season and return to the top of the league and the CIF-SS playoffs. Photo: Zach Cavanagh
•••OCTOBER 21 TRABUCO HILLS* Trabuco Hills HS, 7 p.m.
SAN JUAN HILLS HIGH SCHEDULESCHOOL AUGUST 19 SANTA MARGARITA SJHHS, 7:30 p.m.
SAN JUAN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL
YOUNG, EXPLOSIVE TALENT LEADS SAN JUAN HILLS REBOUND
“I remember the first time I went in, I was so nervous,” Tollefson said. “But over time, you start to get more and more confident and realize it’s just football. You pick up the speed, how defenses move, how momentum works. I’ve gotten a lot more confident.”
Port led San Juan Hills in tackles (91), tackles for loss (25) and sacks (12). He was already a dynamic force for the Stallions’ stoppers, but he’ll get more work in coverage and will also move all
•••SEPTEMBER
•••OCTOBER 7 SANTA MARGARITA* Saddleback College, 7 p.m.
JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
•••AUGUST 26 CHAMINADE (WEST HILLS) Chaminade HS, 7 p.m.
thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022 Page 16
BY ZACH CAVANAGH their tough schedule, which sets up JSerra to be quite competitive in 2022. One of those young players who absorbed the pressure, and now has some of that diamond starting to shine through is junior quarterback Zander Singh. Singh took over the reins late in the season for JSerra, and in that first-round game at Sierra Canyon, it was Singh who nearly got JSerra all the way back with 308 yards passing and five touchdowns. “He’s a good decision-maker,” McKnight JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE AUGUST 19 SIERRA CANYON JSCHS, 7 p.m.
he JSerra football team is the object in the mirror that’s closer than it appears. A quick glance at last year’s 3-8 overall record and 0-5 record in the Trinity League would have observ ers believe it’s still tough sledding for the Lions to be successful, especially with a very young roster. But, of course, it’s tough.
•••OCTOBER 28 ORANGE LUTHERAN* Orange Coast College, 7 p.m.
•••OCTOBER 21 SERVITE* JSCHS, 7 p.m.
Circle JSerra’s season finale against Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College on Oct. 28 as an enormous one, with likely ramifications for playoff berths and league seedings.
•••SEPTEMBER
•••SEPTEMBER 9 CENTENNIAL (CORONA) Centennial HS, 7 p.m. 16 RANCHO CUCAMONGA JSCHS, 7 p.m. 30 MATER DEI* JSCHS, 7 p.m.
JSerra’s young players went through a trial by fire last season, but the Lions weren’t far off from success, which they hope will shine through this season.
Photos: Keaton Larson
T
•••OCTOBER 14 ST. JOHN BOSCO* SJBHS, 7 p.m.
JSerra had the second-toughest schedule in the country behind only St. John Bosco, and they do still play in the Trinity League, which again features the top two teams in the coun try in Mater Dei and Bosco. Despite all that, the Lions really weren’t all that far off from real success last season. JSerra coach Scott McKnight is quick to point out that the Lions lost to CIF-SS Division 2 champion Orange Lutheran by only two points, and that JSerra’s Division 2 first-round game at Sierra Canyon came down to the very last play. JSerra was extremely young at several positions last season, but the Lions survived the pressure cookers of the Trinity League and
JSERRA LOOKS TO TURN PRESSURE INTO PROGRESS
•••SEPTEMBER 2 NEWPORT HARBOR JSCHS, 7 p.m.
* Trinity League game said. “He’s accurate. He’s got good aware ness. Awareness, decision-making, accuracy. You ask anyone about the attributes of a quarterback, if you have those three, you’ll be happy. Everybody talks about the big arm, or you’ve got to be 6-foot-2; a lot of guys who are 6-2, 6-3 can’t throw a pea into the ocean. We’re looking for a guy that can make a good decision pre-snap, and as the play quickly evolves, he makes the right decision.” Singh stands at just 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, but coming into the fall as the No. 1 guy for JSerra on offense, he’s taking command and gaining confidence. “He’s gotten better and better and better. He’s starting to grasp our offense a lot more,” McKnight said. “Our offense is like four years of Spanish. You can’t install four years of Spanish in one year. Last year was Spanish 1. This year is Spanish 2. “ Additionally for the Lions, and especially for Singh, is the growth of the offensive line. The group up front went through a trial by fire last season with two sophomores and three freshmen on the offensive line. Returning allCIF senior center David Tuliau will be a leader for that group, and junior Kainoa Davis, listed at 6-foot-4, 266 pounds, will start at left tackle.McKnight said the JSerra defense will at tack this season, as the Lions need that group to be versatile and aggressive.
•••OCTOBER 21 SADDLEBACK* SMES, 7 p.m.
•••OCTOBER 14 COSTA MESA* Costa Mesa HS, 7 p.m.
thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022 Page 17 phill challenges are nothing new for the St. Margaret’s football team.
St. Margaret’s will take its swings with a younger group, as some of its biggest impact players graduated, including their Mr. Everything, Will Stahl, and their starting quarterback, Jack Ruff. Luckily, the Tartans will have another Ruff under center, as Jack’s younger brother, Max, a junior, takes the reins. Max Ruff also retains one of his brother’s favorite deep threats in senior wide receiver Derek Smith. Smith frequently took the top off the defense with 43 catches for 627 yards and 11 Fellowtouchdowns.seniorSam Dunnell joins Smith in the receiving corps and defensive secondary, and they’ll both be relied on as senior leaders. Dunnell, a 6-foot-4 cornerback, caught four touch downs and grabbed two interceptions last year. Dunnell recently received a college offer from San Diego State. St. Margaret’s has returners throughout the offensive and defensive lines. Linebackers includ ing seniors Andrew Miehe, Brandon Miller and junior Battle Gideons solidify the middle of that defense, which will certainly be tested against the deeper public school teams.
The small private school hidden away on La Novia Ave. has always punched well above its weight. Even recently, the Tartans faced plenty of adversity over the past two seasons, and yet, last year, St. Margaret’s performed to its high standard of success. The Tartans went 1-2 during the COVID-delayed and shortened 2020-21 season with only 17 players on the roster. Just months later in the fall of 2021, St. Margaret’s began its season 2-4. Two months after that, the Tartans had won seven straight games, earned at at-large berth into the CIF-SS playoffs and advanced to the Division 9 championship. This season, St. Margaret’s has a new challenge—one that stacks several things against the Tartans, but also provides great opportunity. The Tartans move on from the no-man’s land of being a freelance team back into a league—a league full of large public schools in the Orange Coast League.“Atthe end of the day, we’re always going to be the smallest numbers,” St. Margaret’s coach Kory Minor said. “It’s who we are. It’s part of our makeup. We’re used to it.” St. Margaret’s, an institution of about 400 high school students, won’t be the only private school in the league, as Calvary Chapel is there with its roughly 500 high school students. However, the next-lowest school in enrollment is Estancia at around 1,200, then Saddleback at 1,600, Costa Mesa and Orange at 1,800, and Santa Ana at a whopping 2,800. But, again, nothing new for St. Margaret’s, and the Tartans are ready to compete. “We’re going to fight. We’re going to scratch. We’re going to claw,” Minor said. “We’re going to surprise some folks in that league.”
•••AUGUST 26 WESTERN SMES, 7 p.m.
•••SEPTEMBER 16 SANTA ANA* SMES, 7 p.m.
Being in a league does provide one big advantage for St. Margaret’s over its CIF-SS finalist predecessor: automatic playoff berths. After the various iterations of the San Joaquin and Academy Leagues dissolved in football, St. Margaret’s was forced to play as a freelance team, which meant having to be selected for an at-large playoff berth, if there were any available. The Tartans got lucky then, but now it’s a race for a top-three league spot for the playoffs, along with the opportunity to play for a league championship.
ST. CHALLENGEWELCOMESMARGARET’SINNEWPUBLIC-SCHOOLLEAGUE
•••SEPTEMBER 3 CHRISTIAN (EL CAJON) Christian HS, 7 p.m. SEPTEMBER 9 MUIR (PASADENA) SMES, 7 p.m.
In the Orange Coast League, the Tartans open against the two toughest members of the group— Santa Ana and league champion Orange—which gives St. Margaret’s plenty of time to make up ground.Thatis, of course, if the Tartans don’t do what they usually do: rise to the challenge.
•••OCTOBER 27 CALVARY CHAPEL* Segerstrom HS, 7:30 p.m. *Orange Coast League
Photo: Zach Cavanagh
ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL SCHEDULE
St. Margaret’s takes on another challenge by moving up to the Orange Coast League, but the Tartans can now play for automatic playoff berths.
U
BY ZACH CAVANAGH AUGUST 18 ONTARIO CHRISTIAN OCHS, 7 p.m.
ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
•••SEPTEMBER 23 ORANGE* SMES, 7 p.m. SEPTEMBER 30 ESTANCIA* Estancia HS, 7 p.m.
Last season, CVC had an influx of 13 freshmen, and the Eagles took off. Capistrano Valley Christian averaged more than 32 points a game while allowing an average of just more than 14 points, to soar to an 8-2 record. It was an incredibly impressive feat for Preszler’s program, but, unfortunately, it was one that went unrewarded. As the San Joaquin League dissolved, CVC was forced to play as a freelance team last season, which meant no matter what, the Eagles had to apply for the CIF-SS playoffs as an at-large team. The 8-2 record wasn’t good enough, as the divi sion grouping CVC was slotted into by the new calpreps.com power ranking system had more higher-ranked at-large candi dates ahead of the Eagles than there were spots available. “You just do the best with the situation we got,” Preszler said. “We turned the page pretty quick. It was a big deal for about a week.”
CVC BRINGS EXPANDING PROGRAM INTO NEW LEAGUE BY ZACH CAVANAGH
Sophomore quarterback Nate Richie will man the helm for the traditional offensive sets, and Preszler had high praise, saying that Richie is as accurate as any quarterback he’s coached, including his days at Saddleback College. Defensively, the Eagles will push up front with a strong group of four defensive linemen: seniors Logan Kelly and Ken nedy Abang and juniors Kelly Glover and Chase Carney. Defensive MVP Jack Gallo returns at linebacker after leading the team in tackles as a freshman. Look out for the Eagles, as the program keeps flying higher.
CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SCHEDULE AUGUST 25 CALVARY CHAPEL Segerstrom HS, 7 p.m.
•••OCTOBER 7 WESTERN CHRISTIAN* Western Christian HS, 7 p.m.
•••OCTOBER 28 ARROWHEAD CHRISTIAN* TBA, 7 p.m. * Mesquite League
thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022 Page 18
•••OCTOBER 1 LINFIELD CHRISTIAN* Aliso Niguel HS, 3 p.m.
T
he past two-plus years have been a wild time of adjusting circumstances for the Capistra no Valley Christian football team. When head coach Eric Preszler began his second stint with the Eagles in April 2020, the program had just seven football players. Preszler did all he could to scrounge together a roster by pulling from other CVC athletics programs, but even with a roster somewhat intact, the Eagles couldn’t put together a sea son in the COVID-delayed spring 2021 window.
•••SEPTEMBER 2 GODINEZ Aliso Niguel HS, 7 p.m.
•••SEPTEMBER 9 LAGUNA BEACH Aliso Niguel HS, 7 p.m.
•••OCTOBER 14 RIVERSIDE PREP* Riverside Prep HS, 7 p.m.
The Capistrano Valley Christian football team enters the season with its largest roster ever, enabling the Eagles to schedule their first-ever junior varsity games. Photos: Zach Cavanagh
•••SEPTEMBER 17 DESERT CHRISTIAN Aliso Niguel HS, 3 p.m.
•••OCTOBER 21 TRINITY CLASSICAL* TBA, 7 p.m.
CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
With the whirlwind this tenure has been, things continue to be on the rise for Capistrano Valley Christian. The Eagles will be in a league this season—the six-team Mesquite League, one of four leagues that make up the newly formed Small Schools Conference—so the Eagles will have three playoff berths for which to contend. Additionally, this might be the largest roster the CVC football program has ever had, according to Preszler. There are 42 players on the current Eagles roster, which also enables CVC to field its first-ever junior varsity squad for a handful of games.It’sa rising tide for the Capistrano Valley Christian football program, as now the returning players for the Eagles actually have game experience and not simply time served at the school.Leader of the pack is senior Hayden Carlson, who is com mitted to Indiana for baseball. Carlson will be everywhere on the field for the Eagles as a running back, wide receiver, wildcat quarterback and safety. “He’s got this maturity on how to handle yourself as an athlete,” Preszler said. “Very structured, self-disciplined, and eager to be the best version of himself.”
Smith will be key to opening up opposing defenses for the St. Margaret’s offense. Smith already showcased himself as deep threat last season with 627 yards and 11 touchdowns on 43 catches. Smith’s speed and senior leadership will be integral to the Tartan attack. He’ll also get some snaps on defense.
HAYDEN CARLSON CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN ATH, Sr. Carlson will be everywhere and do every thing for Capistrano Valley Christian. He will play at running back and receiver, and he will run wildcat packages as a quarterback. Carlson will also play on defense at safety. He is an all-around athlete, including being a Division 1 baseball commit to Indiana.
MICHAEL “BUTTER” TOLLEFSON SAN JUAN HILLS QB, Soph. Tollefson earned the name “Butter” for his smooth release, which showed in his fresh man campaign for the Stallions. Tollefsen completed 60% of his passes for 1,307 yards, 14 touchdowns and three intercep tions. Tollefsen is much more confident in the offense this season and has, so far, collected 14 Division 1 college offers.
ZANDER SINGH JSERRAQB,Jr. Singh didn’t get the full starting control of the JSerra offense until late in his sophomore season, but he provided a much-needed spark. Singh threw for more than 300 yards and five touchdowns in JSerra’s first-round playoff loss, but it was valuable experience as he takes over more of the Lions offense this season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH OFFENSE
thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022 Page 19
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ZACH CAVANAGH PLAYER SPOTLIGHT 1 2 3 4
DEREK SMITH ST. MARGARET’SWR,Sr.
JACK GALLO Capistrano Valley Christian LB, Soph. Gallo led the Capistrano Valley Christian de fense as a freshman last year with 62 tackles, including 43 solo tackles and 13 tackles for loss. Gallo was named defensive MVP for his efforts. A stronger defensive line for the Eagles will open lanes for Gallo to make an even bigger impact.
PLAYERS TO WATCH DEFENSE
SAM DUNNELL ST. MARGARET’SCB,Sr. Dunnell is a unique player with his 6-foot-4 frame being unusual for a cornerback, but that’s part of what Dunnell loves about play ing the position. He pulled in two intercep tions last year, and he’ll be a game-changer on defense again. Dunnell also will feature in the St. Margaret’s offense as a receiver.
WESTON PORT SAN JUAN HILLS LB, Soph. Port was a man among boys last season, even though he was a freshman. Port has gotten bigger and stronger in the offseason with a now 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame, and he worked on his coverage abilities. Port led San Juan Hills in tackles and sacks, and he has 18 Division 1 college offers.
thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022 Page 20
CLARENCE CHANEY JSERRA LB, Jr. Chaney steps in for a big opportunity in the middle of the JSerra defense. The Lions reload at defensive line, so it’s up to Chaney and the linebacking corps to fill the gaps. Chaney plays hard-nosed and comes straight downhill. He improved his coverage skills in the offseason to round out his game.
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ZACH CAVANAGH PLAYER SPOTLIGHT 1 2 3 4
