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Dan Albano addresses hot topics in Orange County football after the opening round of league. Some of the questions were sparked by comments from readers:
1. Should Corona del Mar be voted into the O.C. Top 10 after defeating San Juan Hills?
The Sea Kings (6-0) absolutely deserve a Top 10 vote after handling San Juan Hills 33-10 in teams’ Bravo League opener.
In voting Monday morning, I promoted Corona del Mar to No. 9 in the county from No. 15 last week.
San Juan Hills (4-2) entered the game as the defending Bravo League champion and appeared back on track after beating Mira Costa 38-28.
Corona del Mar went 1-4 in league last season, including a 31-28 loss against the Stallions. But the Sea Kings flourished on both sides of the ball to produce an eye-opening result.
Corona del Mar now enters the Battle of the Bay game against Newport Harbor (2-4) on Saturday at Orange Coast College as the Bravo League’s highest-rated team by HSratings.
2. Which O.C. team emerged as a darkhorse to win league after the first round of league?
Sunny Hills jumped out with a 28-21 upset of Marina in the teams’ Lambda League opener.
The Lancers improved to 5-1 — after finishing 2-8 last season — by beating the defending co-league champion Vikings (4-2), the league’s highest-ranked team on HSratings.
The Lancers showcased a few players with excellent burst. Running back George Shelledy is dangerous in the open field. Wide receiver Kruz Sandle soars for the ball and plays with an edge.
And quarterback Mikeal Khan showed that the buzz he generated in the summer was well-deserved.
But Sunny Hills faces another tough assignment Friday. The Lancers play host to Beckman (3-3) and QB Noah Nam at Buena Park High.
Beckman impressed in its league opener by defeating Fullerton 34-14 and was part of a three-way tie for the league title last season with Marina and Kennedy.
3. What players impressed the most in the first round of league?
Corona del Mar quarterback Brady Annett continued his amazing recovery from shoulder surgery. The senior passed for a season-high 276 yards and four touchdowns to raise his season totals to 1,415 yards and 22 TDs.
Sea Kings outside linebacker Cash Pearsall led his defense with a team-high eight tackles and an interception.
Watching Mater Dei tight end Mark Bowman run from the Wildcat formation against Orange Lutheran was imposing.
At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Bowman plowed through the line of scrimmage with the aggressiveness he is known for and broke tackles in a 22-yard gain on fourth down.
His lead blocker? Fellow USC commit Tomuhini Topui (6-3, 320).
Is Bowman the best all-around player in the county?
The senior might be because of his receiving skills and blocking. He’s played some defensive line but could use more to bolster his case.
Los Alamitos’ Lenny Ibarra, who is committed to Army, is probably Bowman’s biggest competition for the title of best all-around player.
Postgame w/ one tough TE, a USC commit and perhaps an emerging Wildcat QB: @Mark_Bowman09 of @MDFootball
Senior is a physical force so not surprising that he gives a shoutout to OL @owenneilll, Bowman loves to block, too pic.twitter.com/BcB9Gq1b7f
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) October 4, 2025
And finally, Santa Margarita’s defense is a collection of standouts who play together well. On any given night, there could be a different stat leader. In the Eagles’ 17-7 win against Servite, it was safety Logan Hirou leading the way with 12 total tackles in the Trinity League opener.
Hirou is committed to UCLA.
4. What player impressed with his character or sportsmanship?
Orange Lutheran offensive lineman Sam Utu, who is committed to Alabama, again crushed the Lancers’ opening prayer before the Mater Dei game. The senior is well spoken and comes across as a genuine and faithful young man.