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OCVarsity will be previewing every Orange County high school football league and every team before the season begins.
FOXTROT LEAGUE PREVIEW
The Foxtrot League is a six-team league that includes Aliso Niguel, Dana Hills, Fountain Valley, Laguna Beach, Northwood and Orange.
ALISO NIGUEL
Top players: Finley Torrico, TE, Sr.; Carter Vestermark, QB, Sr.; Carson Etnire, WR/CB, Sr.; Kaleo Elam, Sr., WR/S; Logan Wagner, LB, Sr.
What to expect: The Wolverines, who were part of a three-way tie for second place last season in league, return five starters on offense and five on defense. Carter Vestermark (6-2, 190) returns as the starting quarterback after completing 66 percent of his passes for 1,385 yards and nine TDs. Finley Torrico (6-6, 250) is a massive target and holds several college offers, including Montana. Senior Dane Malloy is the top returning wide receiver. He averaged almost 22 yards per catch last season. The running back to watch is senior Brady Defrain, who backed by workhorse Jarett Sabol last season. Carson Etnire and Logan Wagner were all-league selections on defense in 2024 and will help lead the unit. Wagner finished second on the team in tackles last season (44) and led the Wolverines in sacks (three). Etnire shared the team lead in interceptions with four. Aliso Niguel could be in the hunt for a playoff berth.
DANA HILLS
Top players: Radley Geiss, RB, Sr.; Charlie Eckl, TE/DE, Sr.; James Leicester, WR, Sr.; Thompson Foulger, LB, Sr.; Logan Day, OL/DL, Jr.
What to expect: The expectations are high for the Dolphins, who tied for second in league last season, reached the Division 6 semifinals and finished 10-3. Dana Hills placed four players — Radley Geiss, Charlie Eckl, James Leicester and Thomson Foulger — on the OCVarsity Hot 150 list of impact players to watch. Coach Tony Henney, entering his fifth season, returns seven starters on each side of the ball. He said on paper the Dolphins’ talent is “close” to their level last season. Geiss rushed for 1,419 yards in ’24 to emerge as one of the top running backs in the county. He’ll lead the offense along with Leicester, who had 61 catches for 918 yards and 13 TDs last season. The biggest question for the unit will be quarterback. Sophomore Carter Anderson and senior Tommy Moro are competing for the starting position, Henney said. Foulger (172 total tackles) and Eckl (11 sacks), a Cal Poly SLO commit, help anchor the defense. Foulger was the the league’s defensive player of the year in ’24.
FOUNTAIN VALLEY
Top players: Aidan Wong, OL/DL, Sr.; Sam Garza, RB/LB, Sr.; Nathan Lares, TE/DE, Sr.; Munir Beshir, OL/DL, Sr.; Jack Chavez, WR/DB, Sr.
What to expect: Veteran Mitch Olson takes the coaching reins from David Gutierrez, who resigned after four seasons. The Barons posted a 1-9 record last fall, including 0-5 in league. The team could be challenged by inexperience. Fountain Valley returns three starters on offense and two on defense. Sam Garza, the team’s lone returning all-league selection, suffered a shoulder injury Aug. 9 and could be out six to eight weeks, Olson said. Olson has been encouraged by the progression of the offensive and defensive lines. Sophomore Isaac Combs will start at quarterback. “We are improving every week and if we continue, we could be better than expected,” he said. Olson’s 176 career victories, compiled at Kennedy and Loara, rank 16th in Orange County history.
LAGUNA BEACH
Top players: Jack Hurst, QB, Jr.; Wyatt Bogdan, TE/LB, Jr.; Jack Hooper, WR/S, Sr.; Grant Regal, WR/S, Sr.;Brady Stringham, WR/CB, Sr.
What to expect: The Breakers, the defending Foxtrot League champion, turn to Jack Hurst as they begin the post-Jackson Kollock era with two returning starters on offense. Hurst (6-3, 185) passed for 620 yards and nine TDs last season as the backup to Kollock, now at Minnesota. His top target could be Brady Stringham, who led the team in receptions last season with 36 for 493 yards. The key on offense could be the improvement of an inexperienced offensive line, coach John Shanahan said. Laguna Beach could start three freshmen on the offensive line. On defense, Wyatt Bogdan (6-3, 210) leads four returning starters. He paced the team team in tackles in ’24 with 109. Laguna Beach posted three straight shutouts to close nonleague play last season. With its improved depth and the progression of some younger players, Laguna Beach should remain a contender in league.
NORTHWOOD
Top players: Dylan D’Epifanio, QB, So.; Jack Schultz, WR/DB/P, Sr.; Isaac Kwon, WR/DB, Sr.; Parsa Rabiee, TE/LB/DB, Sr.; Jacob Harper, OL/DL, Jr.
What to expect: Veteran Erik Terry takes the coaching reins from J.C. Clarke, who resigned after guiding the Timberwolves to two section titles and a regional championship in four seasons. Terry, the former coach at Irvine, inherits a squad with more experience on defense than offense. The Timberwolves return six starters on defense, which will be coordinated by Clarke. Two-way lineman Jacob Harper (6-2, 260), the brother of former Northwood standouts Adam and Joseph Harper, is the team’s lone returning first-team all-league player. The Timberwolves return four starters on offense. Quarterback is among the question marks. The competition at the position features a twist with the recent arrival of transfer Dyaln D’Epifanio (6-3, 180). As a freshman at Crean Lutheran, D’Epifanio passed for 1,380 yards and 13 TDs after a season-ending injury to starter Caden Jones. Terry said on Aug. 11 the competition at QB and running back will continue through the team’s scrimmage. The running back candidates are senior Ben Tran and sophomores Xayn Ali and LJ Ulmer.
ORANGE
Top players: Star Thomas III, QB, So.; Joshua Flores, DE, Sr.; Rey Urdenes, OL/DL, Jr.; Malahki Allen, WR, Sr.; Kingston Hunter, ATH, So.
What to expect: Prepare for an aerial show by sophomore QB Star Thomas as Orange aims to bounce back from a 2-8 record in ’24. After passing for 2,182 yards and 17 TDs as a freshman, Thomas (6-0, 195) has matured physically while working with a new cast of wideouts. “He’s phenomenal,” Orange coach Robert Pedroza said of Thomas, who has been offered by Purdue among others. The wide receiver corps returns Malahki Allen and a healthy Wesley Lundell (knee), and has added transfers Kingston Hunter (Sierra Canyon), Adam Maldonado (junior from St. John Bosco) and Dylan Stone (sophomore from Servite). Nathan Marquez, a second-team all-league pick last season with Thomas, is a linebacker to watch. Joining Pedroza’s staff as the offensive coordinator is Jude Oliva, formerly of Buena Park and Santa Ana College.