OCVarsity will be previewing every Orange County high school football league and every team before the season begins.
ZETA LEAGUE PREVIEWThe Iota League is a five-team league that includes Century, Godinez, Magnolia, Saddleback and Savanna.
CENTURY
Top players: Alex Alonzo, OL/DL, Sr.; Derek Carrillo, RB/LB, Sr.; Matt Pantaleon, RB/DB, Sr.; Victorino Romero, OL/DL, Sr.; Julien Servin, LB/TE, Sr.
What to expect: The Centurions lost most of their outstanding offensive skill positions players from last year’s team went 7-5 overall and 2-2 in the Zeta League. They have three of their five starting offensive linemen back, including two-way lineman Alex Alonzo, who was All-Zeta first team last year. Also returning is all-league first team running back Derek Carrillo, who rushed for 657 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Matthew Pantaleon was an all-league second-team defensive back in 2024. Among the many new faces for the Century offense is sophomore Leo Mendoza, the projected starting quarterback.
GODINEZ
Top players: Damien Arreola, QB, Sr.; Israel Bonilla, OL/DL, Sr.; Chris Diaz, TE/LB, Sr.; Carlos Hernandez, OL/DL, Sr.; Adrian Ramirez, RB/DB, So.
What to expect: The Grizzlies will be a young team. They have only 14 seniors on the roster, and many of the starters will be sophomores. Among those few seniors is quarterback Damien Arreola, who passed for 576 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 190 yards and four touchdowns last year as Godinez went 5-5 overall and 2-2 in league. Another standout senior is Chris Diaz, who was an All-Zeta League first-team linebacker last season when he recorded 72 tackles, third-most on the team. Things are looking up at Godinez where there are 90 athletes in the football program, compared to 52 players when coach Aron Kaye returned to coach the Grizzlies four years ago.
MAGNOLIA
Top players: Ricardo Garcia, OL/DL, Sr.; Cristian Martinez, RB/LB, Sr.; Nicko Mendoza, QB/RB, Sr.; Logan Strickler, LB/FB, Sr.; Christofer Ventura, LB/RB, Jr.
What to expect: The Sentinels perhaps tried to do too much offensively last year, so a simplified approach could yield better results for a team that last year averaged only 10 points a game while finishing 2-8 overall and 1-3 in league. Senior quarterback Nicko Mendoza is not the biggest guy at his position, at 5-7 and 165 pounds, but he is a tough kid who at the Zeta League Media Day said he looks to similarly-sized quarterbacks like Servite alum Noah Fifita, who has been a star at Arizona. Look for Magnolia to be improved defensively. An area of concern is offensive line where there is only one returning starter, but he is a good one, Ricardo Garcia, who was All-Zeta League second team last year as a junior.
SADDLEBACK
Top players: Andrew Alvarez, WR/DB, Sr,; Fabian Bravo, RB/DB, Sr.; Pablo Sanches, OL/DL, Sr.; Andre Scott, QB, Sr.; Favian Soria, WR/DB, Sr.
What to expect: The Roadrunners have seven returning starters on offense and eight returning starters on defense. Last year they went 4-0 in the Zeta League for their first football league championship in 34 years. Senior quarterback Andre Scott was All-Zeta League first team last season when he passed for 1,115 yards and rushed for 427 yards. He also passed for seven touchdowns and ran for 10. Favian Bravo, another returning All-Zeta first-team player, rushed for 857 yards in 2024. Two-way linemen Pablo Sanchez and Ralph Vargas were all-league first team last season. At the Zeta League Media Day, Roadrunners players talked about their goals of not only repeating as league champs but also of winning a CIF Southern Section championship. They just might have what it takes to get there.
SAVANNA
Top players: Chris Bucio, LB, Jr.; Isamael Carrillo, LB/DB, Jr.; Daniel DeAnda, OL/DL, Jr.; Nico Eich, QB, So., Julian Martinez, WR/DB, Sr.
What to expect: The Rebels have five returning starters on offense and four on defense. Savanna coach Fred Emmerson said the team has more athleticism and speed than last year’s group that finished 2-8 overall and 1-3 in league. But there is not much varsity game experience on the roster. The defense should be improved with the return of linebackers Chris Bucio, a junior who was All-Zeta League second team last year, and senior Chance Sagiao and the addition of former Millikan linebackers coach Jesse Feagin as defensive coordinator. Savanna will be better and could be in the hunt for a playoff berth.