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OCVarsity will be previewing every Orange County high school football league and every team before the season begins.
TRINITY LEAGUE PREVIEW
The Trinity League is a six-team league that includes JSerra, Mater Dei, Orange Lutheran, Santa Margarita, Servite and St. John Bosco.
JSERRA
Top players: Josh Haney, OL, Sr.; Jarod Sersansie, WR, Sr.; Koa Smith-Mayall, QB, Jr.; Rocco Tompkins, LB, Sr.; Clark Cokley, WR, Jr.
What to expect: The Lions graduated several top players, and lost a few starters to transfers, from a squad that finished 6-5 last season (1-4 in league). The departures leave the team with three returning starters on offense and four on defense. Koa Smith-Mayall (5-11, 180) recovered from a knee injury in 2024 to impress in summer passing competition. His top targets include the 6-foot-3 Jarod Sersansie, a Columbia commit, and Clark Cokley. Both were second-team All-Trinity League last season. Junior running back Will Fredericksen, his brother Sam at receiver, and Fresno State commit Josh Haney are other players to watch on offense. Rocco Tompkins, a second-team all-league selection, and junior Dylan Fenn return at linebacker, and join tackle Garrett Dudenhoeffer as potential defensive anchors. Coach Victor Santa Cruz believes the Lions have the potential to be physical and disciplined but need to develop senior leadership. “With a strong junior class and an overall hungry group,” the third-year coach said, “we expect to compete in every game.”
MATER DEI
Top players: Tomuhini Topui, DL, Sr.; Ryan Hopkins, QB, Sr.; Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, WR, Sr.; Mark Bowman, TE, Sr.; Kodi Greene, OL, Sr.
What to expect: The defending national champion Monarchs (13-0 last season) are loaded with returners as they open 2025 No. 1 in multiple national rankings. “It doesn’t surprise me,” Mater Dei coach Raul Lara said of the rankings. “We’re a talented team … so that’s why we always harp on (focusing each week).” The Monarchs are especially experienced along their lines and wide receiver. The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Tomuhini Topui, a USC commit and reigning Trinity League MVP, sets the tone for the defense. He claimed the No. 2 spot on OCVarsity’s Hot 150 list of impact players to watch. Mater Dei also returns first-team All-County offensive linemen Kodi Greene, a Washington commit, and junior Lex Mailangi. The wide receiving corps includes Ohio State commits Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Chris Henry Jr., USC commit Mark Bowman and Gavin Honore, a junior committed to Georgia. Outside linebacker Shaun Scott, a USC commit, and a deep secondary will team with Topui to lead the defense. The unit held opponents to 14.5 points last season. QB Ryan Hopkins, a transfer from JSerra, is an intriguing newcomer on offense. The Wisconsin commit impressed in summer passing competition and possesses high-end speed as a dual threat. The Monarchs’ new-look backfield also features transfer running backs Justin Lewis (Thousand Oaks) and Malachi Roby (Centennial). They’re part of a group that replaces workhorse Jordon Davison, a 1,200-yard rusher now at Oregon. Depth on the offensive line could be a concern.
ORANGE LUTHERAN
Top players: Sean Morris II, RB, Sr.; Auma Jennings, DL, Sr.; Marcus Fakatou, DL, So.; Sam Utu, OL, Sr.; Chris Flores, WR, Jr.
What to expect: The Lancers will blend a cast of returners with newcomers after reaching the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals last season. The offensive and defensive lines, which helped power the team to an 8-4 record in 2024, remain imposing. The 6-foot-4 and 320-pound Sam Utu, who is committed to Alabama, and junior Lucas Rhoa (6-5, 300) anchor an offensive line that could challenge Mater Dei for the largest in the league. On defense, Auma Jennings (6-1, 310) and Marcus Fakatou (6-7, 260) ranked No. 19 and No. 20, respectively, in the Orange County Hot 150. A few of the key newcomers are on offense. Sean Morris II, who rushed for 1,762 yards last season at Loyola, is committed to Northwestern and ranks as the No. 1 running back in Orange County. The Lancers also added wide receiver Markus Kier from Loyola, a Princeton commit who had 75 catches for 949 yards and 11 TDs last season. Kier will join a wide receiving corps with more speed and athleticism. Orange Lutheran also attracted freshman quarterback Ezrah Brown, the brother of former Mater Dei standout QB Elijah Brown (Stanford). Ezrah Brown is part of a three-way competition for the starting position. Linebacker and the secondary are question marks on defense. With USC-committed linebacker Talanoa Ili now at Kahuku of Hawaii, the Lancers will lean on defenders such as linebacker Christian Panapa and safety Jackson Perez.
SANTA MARGARITA
Top players: Trent Mosley, WR, Sr.; Dash Fifita, LB, Sr.; Simote Katoanga, DE, Sr.; Niniva Nicholson, OL, Sr.; Manoah Faupusa, OL/DL, Sr.
What to expect: A new-look team. The Eagles experienced many changes in the offseason starting in December with the hire of Heisman Trophy winner and NFL All-Pro Carson Palmer as coach. An alumnus of Santa Margarita and a school parent, Palmer (USC) took the reins after a 5-7 season and allegations of sexual assaults within the program. Palmer’s coaching staff includes former Mater Dei standout Lenny Vandermade (USC) as offensive coordinator and Steve Fifita as defensive coordinator. The changes also include several transfers, including a trio of college-committed linemen. Simote Katoanga (USC) and Niniva Nicholson (Arizona State) are from JSerra while Manoah Faupusa (Arizona) is from St. Ignatius in Northern California. As of Aug. 14, the eligibility of the three remains unclear. The Eagles also have a transfer quarterback in Trace Johnson, a Tulane commit who threw for more than 6,000 yards and 64 TDs the past two seasons at Buchholz of Florida. His top target is USC commit Trent Mosley, the No. 1-ranked wide receiver in the county. The wide receiving corps, however, took a hit with a season-ending injury to UCLA commit Jonah Smith. The strength of the team could be defense. Dash Fifita, an Arizona commit, returns as the team’s leading tackler and the league’s co-MVP on defense. He’ll be supported by linebackers Leki Holani and Ivrick Carrigan, and a secondary featuring Jayden Crowder (Cal) and safety Logan Hirou (UCLA) among others. “We’ve got a really special group of seniors,” Palmer said. “They’ve all taken different paths to get to 2025. They are not afraid to compete, fail or work hard.”
SERVITE
Top players: Isaiah Leilua, LB, Jr.; Elisha Mueller, OL, So.; Benjamin Harris, WR/ATH, Jr.; Luke Sorensen, TE, Sr.; Kaleb Aiava, S, So.
What to expect: The Friars, who went 6-5 last season, remain a physical team with the return of several offensive linemen and linebackers. Elisha Mueller (6-4, 300) and fellow sophomore Keiden Lokeni (6-3, 342) headline a deep offensive line that includes Montana State commit Gavin Wilkins, center Jaden Rasic and emerging left tackle Drew Fielder. Mueller, Lokeni and Rasic each made all-league last season. Senior Gavin Gutierrez is a running back to watch after backing up Quaid Carr (1,231 yards), who is now at Washington. The key on offense will be the progression of the passing game, coach Chris Reinert said. “We were one-dimensional last year,” he said. Mission Viejo transfer Kale Murphy, a 6-foot-2 junior, could take the quarterback reins. The top targets are Nebraska commit Luke Sorensen and Benjamin Harris, one of the school’s track standouts who has injected speed into the program. Isaiah Leilua and Brando MosQueda are among the county’s top linebackers. They’ll join forces with rising sophomore Allen Kennett to form a mobile group. Kalbe Aiava and seniors Tristin Real and Saxon Churchwell lead a solid secondary. If the defensive line develops, the Friars could be a stingy group.
ST. JOHN BOSCO
Top players: Koa Malau’ulu, QB, So.; Madden Williams, Sr., WR; Carson Clark, WR, Sr.; Dutch Horisk, DL, Sr.; Joshua Holland, DB, Sr.
What to expect: The Braves, ranked No. 2 nationally by MaxPreps in the preseason, are heavy on returners as they look to challenge rival Mater Dei. The Monarchs beat St. John Bosco for league and Division 1 titles in 2024. The Braves return seven first-team all-league selections, including four on defense, from an 11-2 team. Those defenders include leading tackler Isala Aisa Wily-Ava at safety, Oregon commit Dutch Horisk and USC commit Joshua Holland. QB Koa Malau’ulu burst onto the scene in league play last season and finished with 1,812 yards and 19 TDs. St. John Bosco needs Malau’ulu — the only returning starting QB in the Trinity League — to continue his ascent. The Braves return their top three wide receivers in Madden Williams (Texas A&M), Carson Clark (San Jose State) and Daniel Odom (Oklahoma) along with 1,000-yard rusher Maliq Allen. Line play on both sides of the ball is another crucial area.