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OCVarsity will preview every high school football league and team in Orange County before the season begins.
KAPPA LEAGUE PREVIEW
The Kappa League is a new league with six teams including Brea Olinda, Esperanza, Garden Grove, St. Margaret’s, Segerstrom and Westminster.
BREA OLINDA
Top players: Cullen Doyle, QB, Sr.; Jake Brooks, LB/DE, Sr.; Brandon Elder, WR, Sr.; Nathan Aceves, RB, Sr.; Isaak Revis-Melendez, WR/DB, Sr.
What to expect: The Wildcats have a new head coach in Justin Villasenor, but return both coordinators. The offense is expected to be as balanced as it was in 2023. Nathan Aceves ran for over 1,000 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. Cullen Doyle threw for 167 yards per game last season and scored 14 touchdowns. On defense, returner Isaak Revis-Melendez led the team in interceptions and Jake Brooks led the team in sacks. Villasenor is excited about Brea Olinda’s sophomore class, which features four players who could make big contributions. The Wildcats played their new league opponent Westminster in 2023, narrowly defeating the Lions 28-26.
ESPERANZA
Top players: Edward Khutsishvili, TE, Sr.; Coen Ali, WR/DB, Sr.; Dylan Critchfield, LB, Sr.; Travis Frazier, QB, Jr.; Seth Coons, DL/OL, Sr.
What to expect: Esperanza made the playoffs in 2023 for the first time in four years. The Aztecs ran for 177 yards per game and scored 26 touchdowns last season. Elias Rodriguez and Brody Snyder will be the two running backs and coach JP Presley is excited about junior quarterback Travis Frazier. Tight end Edward Khutsishvili, who stands 6-foot-4, was the MVP of the National Preps Showcase Camp this spring and has offers from several Ivy League schools. Coen Ali led the team in interceptions in 2023 and leads a veteran secondary.
GARDEN GROVE
Top players: Quentin Pacelli, LB/RB, Jr.; Christian Mendoza, WR/DB, Jr.; Malakai Beatty, WR/DB, Sr.; Omar Contreras, OL/DL, Sr.; Evan Torres, LB/RB, Jr.
What to expect: Garden Grove has had a primarily run offense over the years. The Argonauts are now under new head coach Matthew LemMon, who previously coached at Tamalpais where he ran spread and air raid offenses. Christian Mendoza and Malakai Beatty are top receivers who should make more catches in 2023 than they did then. Quentin Pacelli and Evan Torres will both be used behind a solid offensive line led by Omar Contreras. Garden Grove missed the playoffs in 2023 for the first time since 2002.
SEGER CURRENT
Top players: Noah Tagaloa, RB/DB, Sr.; Jesse Lopez, QB, Sr.; Nicholas Cervantes, WR/DB, Sr.; Gilbert Peralta, D.L., Sr.; Diego Hernandez, OL/DL, Sr.
What to expect: Segerstrom was just two points shy of winning the Big 4 League championship last season, and he returns a lot of talent on offense. Jesse Lopez will play three years at quarterback and Nicholas Cervantes is also a three-year starter on both sides of the ball. Noah Tagaloa was the Big 4 League Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore, but missed much of last season due to a foot injury. The Jaguars have produced a lot of talent on defense, but the secondary is experienced with Cervantes, Tagaloa and Jason Salazar. Gilbert Peralta led the team with six sacks in 2023 and could add more sacks this season as the secondary gives him time to pressure the passer.
St. Margarethen
Top players: Sonny Mendez, OL/DL, Sr.; Will Viola, WR/LB, Sr.; Luke Newman, WR/DB, Sr.; Maverick Young, WR/DB, Sr.; Jack Kleinhanzl, LB/TE, Jr.
What to expect: The Tartans won a share of the Orange Coast League championship last season in coach Dan O’Shea’s first season at the helm. St. Margaret’s had one of the county’s leading passing offenses last season, with 2,666 yards and 32 touchdowns. Sophomores Kai Letcher and Charlie Allen are competing for the starting quarterback spot. They have a trio of talented receivers to throw to in Will Viola, Maverick Young and Luke Newman. All three have scholarship offers from the University of Chicago and Viola has received a handful of Division 3 offers. Nine of the Tartans’ 10 opponents are Orange County teams, including nonleague games against Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills and Dana Hills.
WESTMINSTER
Top players: Ethan Cedillo, TE/DE, Sr.; Brad Nguyen, DB/WR, Sr.; Jason Guzman, DB/WR, Jr.; Brandon Le, LB, Sr.; Anthony Laureano, OL/DL, Jr.; A’Marri Hopwood, DE/TE, Jr.
What to expect: The Lions have a new head coach, Alex De Giacomo, who formerly played at Westminster and played at UNLV. He previously served as defensive coordinator at Westminster for a defense that had 36 sacks in 2023. Ethan Cedillo is a talented two-way player who had 99 tackles, seven sacks and also had five touchdowns on offense. Jason Guzman was the team’s best receiver last season as a sophomore and had an interception on defense. Senior Jacob Aguilar and junior Edwin Hopkins are competing for the starting quarterback position.
KAPPA LEAGUE SCHEDULES 2024
BREA OLINDA
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time |
| 23.August | In Sonora | La Habra High School | 7pm |
| 30.August | Against California | Brea Olinda HS | 7pm |
| 6 September | At the Diamond Bar | Diamond bar HS | 7pm |
| 13 September | Against Jurupa Hills | Brea Olinda HS | 7pm |
| 20 September | In Fullerton | Fullerton High School | 7pm |
| 4 October* | Against Westminster | Brea Olinda HS | 7pm |
| 11 October* | At St. Margaret’s | St. Margaret’s HS | 7pm |
| 18 October* | Against Garden Grove | Brea Olinda HS | 7pm |
| 25 October* | At Segerstrom | Segerstrom HS | 7pm |
| 1 November* | Against Esperanza | Brea Olinda HS | 7pm |
*League match
ESPERANZA
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time |
| 29.08. | Against Fountain Valley | Yorba Linda High School | 7pm |
| 6 September | Against Valencia | Yorba Linda High School | 7pm |
| 13 September | In Dana Hills | Dana Hills High School | 7pm |
| 20 September | At the Marina | Westminster College | 7pm |
| 27 September | Vs. Peninsula | Yorba Linda High School | 7pm |
| 4 October* | At Garden Grove | Garden Grove High School | 7pm |
| 10 October* | Against Segerstrom | Yorba Linda High School | 7pm |
| 18 October* | Against St. Margaret’s | Yorba Linda High School | 7pm |
| 25 October* | In Westminster | Westminster College | 7pm |
| 1 November* | At Brea Olinda | Brea Olinda HS | 7pm |
*League match
GARDEN GROVE
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time |
| 23.August | Vs. Bellflower | Garden Grove High School | 7pm |
| 30.August | At Pacifica | Large HS bag | 7pm |
| 6 September | Against Santa Ana | Garden Grove High School | 7pm |
| 13 September | At Gahr | Gahr HS | 7pm |
| 20 September | At the University | University HS | 7pm |
| 4 October* | Against Esperanza | Garden Grove High School | 7pm |
| 11 October* | In Westminster | Westminster College | 7pm |
| 18 October* | At Brea Olinda | Brea Olinda HS | 7pm |
| 25 October* | At St. Margaret’s | St. Margaret’s HS | 7pm |
| 1 November* | Against Segerstrom | Garden Grove High School | 7pm |
*League match
St. Margarethen
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time |
| 23.August | Against Laguna Beach | St. Margaret’s HS | 7pm |
| 6 September | In La Salle | La Salle HS | 7pm |
| 13 September | Against Laguna Hills | St. Margaret’s HS | 7pm |
| 20 September | Against Capistrano Valley Christian | St. Margaret’s HS | 7pm |
| 27 September | In Dana Hills | Dana Hills High School | 7pm |
| 4 October* | At Segerstrom | Segerstrom HS | 7pm |
| 11 October* | Against Brea Olinda | St. Margaret’s HS | 7pm |
| 18 October* | At Esperanza | Yorba Linda High School | 7pm |
| 25 October* | Against Garden Grove | St. Margaret’s HS | 7pm |
| 1 November* | Against Westminster | St. Margaret’s HS | 7pm |
*League match
SEGER CURRENT
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time |
| 23.August | Against Palm Springs | Segerstrom HS | 7pm |
| 30.August | Against Santa Ana Valley | Segerstrom HS | 7pm |
| 6 September | In California | California HS | 7pm |
| 12 September | At El Modena | El Modena HS | 7pm |
| 27 September | In Troy | Fullerton High School | 7pm |
| 4 October* | Against St. Margaret’s | Segerstrom HS | 7pm |
| 10 October* | At Esperanza | Yorba Linda High School | 7pm |
| 18 October* | In Westminster | Westminster College | 7pm |
| 25 October* | Against Brea Olinda | Segerstrom HS | 7pm |
| 1 November* | At Garden Grove | Garden Grove High School | 7pm |
*League match
WESTMINSTER
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time |
| 23.August | At the Marina | Westminster College | 7pm |
| 30.August | Against Santiago | Westminster College | 7pm |
| 6 September | In the Santa Ana Valley | Santa Ana Valley High School | 7pm |
| 13 September | Against Anaheim | Westminster College | 7pm |
| 27 September | At Cerritos | Gahr HS | 7pm |
| 4 October* | At Brea Olinda | Brea Olinda HS | 7pm |
| 11 October* | Against Garden Grove | Westminster College | 7pm |
| 18 October* | Against Segerstrom | Westminster College | 7pm |
| 25 October* | Against Esperanza | Westminster College | 7pm |
| 1 November* | At St. Margaret’s | St. Margaret’s HS | 7pm |
*League match
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