OCVarsity will be previewing every Orange County high school football league and every team before the season begins.
ALPHA LEAGUE PREVIEW
The Alpha League is a four-team league that includes Edison, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo and San Clemente.
EDISON
Top players: Devyn Blake, OL/DL, Sr.; Ayden DeGiacomo. WR/DB, Jr.; Will Harrison, DB/WR, Sr.; Nathan Stevens, OL/DL, Sr.; Sam Thomson, QB, Jr.
What to expect: Sam Thomson was the Chargers’ starting quarterback from late-October on, including the team’s wins in CIF Southern Section and CIF State championship games. Edison likely will throw the football more than it did in 2024. The Chargers will be solid along the offensive and defensive lines, with the big and quick Devyn Blake (6-3, 280), who was All-Orange County third team last year, leading the group. Ayden DeGiacomo, All-Alpha League second team last year, was Edison’s second-leading receiver in ‘24 with 31 receptions for 597 yards and four touchdowns. Will Harrison, also all-league second team, was fifth in total tackles for the Chargers last year.
LOS ALAMITOS
Top players: Hunter Eligon, DL, Jr.; Lenny Ibarra, RB, Sr; Beckham Hofland, TE, Sr.; Braiden McKenna, OL, Sr.; Jackson Ranger, DL, Sr..
What to expect: Lenny Ibarra, All-Alpha League first team last year, is an Army commit and No. 4 in the Register’s ranking of the top Orange County running backs. He will be a featured player on offense again this season, carrying the football and catching it. Griffins coach Ray Fenton predicts a fine season for senior quarterback Colin Creason who will be a first-year starter at the position. Beckham Hofland (6-4, 210), who committed to Boise State, was All-Alpha second team last season. Kamden Tillis, who has offers from Hawaii and San Diego State, played receiver last year and is listed as a running back this year. Look for Los Alamitos to have another fast and hard-hitting defense led by Jackson Ranger, sometimes known as “Rambo,” who was an Alpha League lineman of the year in 2024.
MISSION VIEJO
Top players: Brady Bowman, Sr., LB; Luke Fahey, QB, Sr.; JD Hill, DL, Sr.; Jeron Jones, DB, Sr.; Vance Spafford, WR, Sr.
What to expect: Mission Viejo is the most-likely team to go 3-0 in this elite league after completing a challenging nonleague schedule that includes Santa Margarita and Folsom. The Diablos, 3-0 in league last year, have Luke Fahey, Orange County’s No. 1 quarterback in our position rankings, who committed to Ohio State. Vance Spafford, committed to Miami of Florida and a two-time All-County first-team selection, will be among the county’s leading receivers and always finds an opening in the end zone. JD Hill, who had 16.5 sacks last year, made All-County second team and is No. 4 in the Register ranking of the county’s top linemen, and Brady Bowman will lead the attacking defensive front. All-County second-team cornerback Jeron Jones, a Washington commit, stars on what will be another lockdown defensive backfield.
SAN CLEMENTE
Top players: Scotty Johnson, OL, Sr.; Josh Kerst, DL, Sr.; Damian Martinez, LB, Sr.; Patrick Norman, LB, Sr.; Jaxson Rex, WR/DB, Sr.
What to expect: The Tritons will be a well-experienced group, which is a must in the high-quality Alpha League, with six returning starters on offense and five returning starters on defense. Among those returnees is junior receiver Jaxson Rex, an All-Alpha second-team selection last year who also is an excellent safety. Two-year starting offensive lineman Scotty Johnson, a senior who was all-league second team in 2024, anchors the solid-as-usual San Clemente offensive line. The defense could be good at pressuring quarterbacks, with the return of senior defensive end Josh Kerst who had a team-high 12 sacks last year and was all-league second team, and senior linebacker Patrick Norman who was all-league second team as a defensive end. San Clemente has a competition for starting quarterback among senior Luke Hardy and junior Eiler King, both of whom played well as the Tritons advanced to the finals of two passing tournaments including winning the Brave 8 Tournament at St. John Bosco.