Here is a week-by-week look at the outstanding matchups on the 2025 Orange County football schedule.
Of course, there are Trinity League games here. But county football has so much more to offer …
WEEK 0
Mission Viejo vs. Santa Margarita at Trabuco Hills High, Aug. 22: This is a splendid way to kick off the season. The spotlight is on Santa Margarita alum, Heisman Trophy winner and 14-year NFL quarterback Carson Palmer, who makes his debut as the Eagles’ head coach. The MaxPreps.com national rankings have Mission Viejo at No. 14 and Santa Margarita at No. 16. Mission Viejo is the No. 6 public school in those national rankings. The Diablos have their usual large supply of college-bound players, including Miami-committed receiver Vance Stafford and Ohio State-committed quarterback Luke Fahey, who is No. 1 in the Register’s rankings of Orange County quarterbacks. Santa Margarita has a great receiver in senior Trent Mosley, a two-time All-Orange County selection who committed to USC. Santa Margarita has an intriguing new quarterback in Trace Johnson, a senior transfer from Florida and a Tulane commit. Mission Viejo beat Santa Margarita 35-7 last season at Mission Viejo High to continue a good run of success for the Diablos against Trinity League foes.
Also in Week 0: Mater Dei at St. Thomas Aquinas of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Tesoro at El Toro; Northwood at Irvine; San Clemente at Tustin.
WEEK 1
Villa Park at Western, Aug. 29: Two of Orange County’s better public school programs meet in this one. Villa Park will be very youthful, with seven sophomores as projected starters. Spartans coach Dusan Ancich said it is a talented group of high achievers, on the field and in the class room. Among Villa Park’s experienced returnees are senior receiver Luvie Clark, who was All-Bravo League first team last season, and junior middle linebacker Maverick DeClark. Western has another outstanding assortment of talent, including 6-2 junior quarterback Chance Thomas who can run and throw with equal skill. Other offensive standouts for the Pioneers are senior receiver Maxwell Young, who committed to Fresno State, and UNLV-committed senior running back Skylar Lendsey.
Also in Week 1: Corona Centennial vs. Santa Margarita at Trabuco Hills High; Rancho Cucamonga vs. Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College; El Modena at Dana Hills; Pacifica at Garden Grove; Huntington Beach at Trabuco Hills.
WEEK 2
Esperanza at Dana Hills, Sept. 5: Esperanza senior quarterback Travis Frazier had an outstanding 2024 season, completing 62 percent of his passes for 2,697 yards and 31 touchdowns. Frazier was named Kappa League offensive player of the year. Receiver Eddie Matthews and all-purpose Davian Franco were all-league second team last season. Dana Hills might be the best team in the Foxtrot League that, like most county football leagues, appears to be a balanced group. The Dolphins defense brings back senior linebacker Thompson Foulger, last year’s Foxtrot defensive player of the year, and all-league seniors Radley Geiss at running back and lineman Trevor Blackmore.
Also in Week 2: Western at Huntington Beach; Newport Harbor at El Modena; Kahuku vs. Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium; Fountain Valley vs. Marina at Westminster High; Folsom at Mission Viejo.
WEEK 3
Crean Lutheran at El Modena, Sept. 12: Crean Lutheran was a senior-heavy team last season. Saints football will be on the youngish side, but it might be the most athletic group there since the school opened in 2007. Injuries limited quarterback Caden Jones’ playing time last season. Jones, also a fine basketball player, is healthy and poised for a terrific junior year. Crean senior defensive lineman Anthony Jones, an Epsilon League co-lineman of the year last season, committed to UCLA. Dillon Booth is a dangerous player at receiver and running back. Ty Johnson, a junior receiver who transferred to Crean from Texas, has offers from Arizona State and UCLA. El Modena’s Ethan Sorenson, a junior, is the Vanguards quarterback, replacing the dynamic Xzavior Guess who graduated. The Vanguards have some good ones back including two-way lineman Andrew Alvarez and receiver/defensive back Sam Jackett, both of whom were All-Delta League second team in 2024.
Also in Week 3: Beckman at Portola; Marina vs. Pacifica at Bolsa Grande High; Trabuco Hills at El Toro; Woodbridge vs. Northwood at Irvine High; St. Paul at Los Alamitos; Serra vs. Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College.
WEEK 4
Tustin at Yorba Linda, Sept. 19: This is the final week of nonleague play for most Orange County teams including these two. Tustin’s only regular-season loss last season was to Yorba Linda 35-31. The Tillers might be the better team this time. Their group of returnees is impressive, including All-Orange County first-team junior safety Khalil Terry, All-OC second-team two-way lineman Jon Ioane (6-3, 277) and junior defensive lineman Jeremiah Williams (6-1, 302), who was All-OC third team last year. Williams again will see action as a jumbo running back in short-yardage situations. Yorba Linda has eight returning starters on defense including All-OC third-team defensive lineman Blake Thorp and All-Bravo League first-team cornerback Thomas Knutson. The Mustangs’ six returning starters on offense include All-Bravo first-team junior receiver Troy Roberts. This game will reveal much about both teams before they head into league play, Tustin in the Delta League and Yorba Linda in the Bravo League. Those are two very good leagues.
Also in Week 4: Foothill vs. Capistrano Valley at Saddleback College; Portola vs. Northwood at Irvine High; Laguna Beach vs. El Dorado at Valencia High; Sierra Canyon vs. Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College.
WEEK 5
Bishop Gorman vs. Santa Margarita at Trabuco Hills High, Sept. 27: The MaxPreps preseason national rankings have Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas at No. 3 behind, in order, Mater Dei and St. John Bosco; Santa Margarita is No. 16. Gorman, which plays at home against Mater Dei on Sept. 19, has a large group of college-committed players including Oregon-committed senior safety Jett Washington. Gaels senior quarterback Maika Eugenio committed to Hawaii. This is a great test for Santa Margarita before the Eagles play their Trinity League opener the following week against Servite at Santa Ana Stadium.
Also in Week 5: Corona del Mar at Trabuco Hills; St. Margaret’s at Laguna Hills; Rancho Alamitos at Garden Grove.
WEEK 6
La Habra vs. El Dorado at Valencia High, Oct. 3: It’s the first week of league games. This one is an opener in the Epsilon League in which La Habra went 5-0 last year. Having shared time at the position the past two seasons, La Habra junior quarterback DJ Mitchell is the bona fide No. 1 guy this season. Mitchell, who can do damage throwing the football or running with it, has offers from Auburn and San Diego State among other colleges. Highlanders junior running back Kevita Martinez was All-Epsilon League first team last season. Blake Rogers could be a top receiver target for Mitchell. El Dorado played in a CIF Southern Section championship game in 2023, but slid to a 3-7 finish last year. The Golden Hawks should be improved, especially on defense. Senior linebacker Cooper Larson was all-league second team last season when he recorded 14.5 tackles for loss. Henry Cook is another fine senior linebacker who also plays tight end. Senior defensive end Nate Larsen was all-league second team last season.
Also in Week 6: Mater Dei vs. Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College; Santa Margarita vs. Servite at Santa Ana Stadium; Tustin vs. Cypress at Western High; Yorba Linda vs. Villa Park at El Modena High; Long Beach Poly at Mission Viejo.
WEEK 7
Yorba Linda at San Juan Hills, Oct. 10: The Bravo League is the No. 3 league in Orange County football, after the Trinity and Alpha League. The Bravo’s second week of league is full of rugged matchups including this one. With eight returning starters on defense, including All-Orange County third-team defensive lineman Blake Thorp, and six returning starters on offense including All-Bravo first-team junior receiver Troy Roberts. San Juan Hills senior quarterback Timmy Herr was All-County third team and was the Bravo’s MVP last season. Other Stallions returnees who were all-league first team last season are junior receiver/defensive back Luke Frith, offensive lineman Cooper Javorsky who was All-OC third team in 2024 and receiver/safety Dean Kolasinski. These might be the two best teams in the Bravo League, which is a balanced six-team group.
Also in Week 7: Santa Margarita vs. Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium; St. John Bosco vs. Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College; JSerra vs. Servite at TBD; Laguna Beach vs. Fountain Valley at Huntington Beach High; Huntington Beach at La Habra; Newport Harbor vs. Corona del Mar at Newport Harbor High; Anaheim at Costa Mesa.
WEEK 8
St. John Bosco vs Santa Margarita at Trabuco Hills High, Oct. 17: This will be the third Trinity League game for both teams. St. John Bosco will have played JSerra and Orange Lutheran. Santa Margarita will have played Servite and Mater Dei. St. John Bosco has eight returnees who were All-Trinity League first team last season including senior receivers Carson Clark, who committed to San Jose State, and Madden Williams (Texas A&M). Santa Margarita is going to need a great game from All-County receiver Trent Mosley, who is a touchdown and first-down machine. The Eagles offense will be built around getting him the ball in every way possible.
Also in Week 8: Orange Lutheran at JSerra; Servite vs. Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium; El Modena at Tustin; La Habra at Crean Lutheran; San Juan Hills at Newport Harbor; Cypress at Western; Beckman vs. Kennedy at Western High; Irvine at El Toro; Los Amigos at Estancia.
WEEK 9
Western at Tustin, Oct. 23: From Week 6 on, Orange County has plenty of “this could be for the league championship” games on the schedule. This could be for the championship of the Delta League, a good league that probably has Capistrano Valley as a league title contender. With all of the offensive talent on both rosters, this likely is a high-scoring game. Tustin’s quarterback is sophomore Ayden Edwards (6-5, 205), who gets plenty of praise from Tillers coach Anthony Lopez. Western’s QB is junior Chance Thomas (6-2, 200). Both quarterbacks are surrounded by terrific skill players and stalwart offensive linemen.
Also in Week 9: JSerra vs. Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium; Orange Lutheran vs. Santa Margarita at Trabuco Hills High; Servite at St. John Bosco; Villa Park at San Juan Hills; Kennedy vs. Marina at Westminster High; Century at Saddleback; Laguna Beach at Dana Hills.
WEEK 10
Mater Dei at St. John Bosco, Oct. 31: The perfect set-up would be that the Monarchs and Braves would be undefeated in the Trinity League going into this final date of the regular season. Which is probable but not guaranteed, given the high quality of other Trinity League teams. The main story line is familiar, that whichever team loses this game in the regular season is the winner of the CIF-SS Division 1 championship game rematch. Mater Dei quarterback Ryan Hopkins should be settled in by this time. Hopkins must sit out the first part of the season because he transferred to Mater Dei from JSerra without making the change of residence that would have granted him eligibility for the entire season.
Also in Week 10: Orange Lutheran vs. Servite at Orange Coast College; Santa Margarita at JSerra; El Modena vs. Cypress at Western High; San Clemente vs. Edison at Huntington Beach High; Mission Viejo at Los Alamitos; Pacifica at Portola; Brea Olinda vs. Esperanza at Yorba Linda High; El Toro vs. Troy at Fullerton High.