Southern California High School Football Report: Ed. 1, Issue 3: The Friday Blitz, a weekly look at Prep Football in Southern California
We take a look at the top-10 non-league football games of 2025, the shortage of defensive linemen, and more.
One week into our previews for football and girls' flag football, and we couldn’t be more thankful for the response. It’s been incredible, and each day we will be posting new previews. Our goal is to be your one-stop shop for all things football.
If you are a head football coach and didn’t receive our questionniare, drop me an email at James_Escarcega@outlook.com and we’ll fire off one to you.
On Monday, we’ll have a one-stop shop for football previews, covering both football and girls flag football so you can read all our previews.
And now it’s time for
10 BEST NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL GAMES FOR 2025.
For this list, we focused on games that will be played in Southern California so you can attend these games. There is only one out-of-state game listed, and it’s for an obvious reason. After all, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
1) Mater Dei at Bishop Gorman, Friday, September 19th, Week 4
Nothing beats a four-hour trip from Southern California to Sin City for what should be the U.S. game of the week. The talent on both sides of the field is expected to be outstanding. Let’s start with Bishop Gorman and their top-ranked athlete, Jeff Washington (#18 on 247 Sports). The University of Oregon commit is the top-rated player in Nevada and the second-ranked safety in the country. At 6-5, 200 pounds, he looks the part instantly. Also in the secondary are Nevada's sixth-best player, Joey Thomas III, and Hayden Stepp (6-3, 175) at cornerback. The Gaels also feature two excellent wide receivers: Massiah Mingo (5-10, 160) and Maika Eugenio (6-0, 180). Don’t overlook Isaiah Nickels (ATH), a Hawaii commit. With all this talent, it's hard to believe BG is the underdog in this game, but that’s the case against the Monarchs. If you're a hardcore football fan, you should be aware of players like Bowman, Greene, Henry Jr., Dixon-Wyatt, Topui, and many more. I’d make Mater Dei an early -10 point favorite (and that could be light). Mater Dei is 4-0 in the series, and many think it could be 5-0 by the end of the night.
2) Mission Viejo at Santa Margarita, Friday August 22, Week 0
What a way to kick off the football season with two teams that, after what happened this week, don’t seem eager to sit down for a Thanksgiving dinner. Santa Margarita withdrew from the South Orange County tournament this week at Mission Viejo High School, which went as smoothly as a plane landing during a heavy rainstorm. This will only fuel the emotions even more when they face off against each other to open the season. Make no mistake, this game will be decided at the line of scrimmage, where (on paper) Santa Margarita has the upper hand. Simote Katoanga and Manoah Faupusa are two of the state’s top defensive linemen for the class of 2026, and Isaia Vandermade is considered a top 100 player for the class of 2027. This presents a tough challenge for Mission Viejo, which will have one of Orange County’s top quarterbacks in Luke Fahey. The game should be available on the NFHS Network and could turn into a shootout if the SM front four can’t pressure the quarterback—a spicy matchup, for sure.
3) Sierra Canyon at Orange Lutheran, Saturday, September 20th, Week 4
What a game, and this one should give us big clues about who will be competing deep in the playoffs and who still has work to do. Sierra Canyon was upset in the quarterfinals of the Division 2 playoffs by Yorba Linda, which should serve as a major motivation in the offseason weight room. The Trailblazers have five players who made the CalHiSports Top 100 for the class of 2026. These include USC commits Madden Riordan (#27) and Ja’Myron Baker (#45), along with LSU commit Havon Finney (DB). Add in #3 rated Richard Wesley and quarterback Laird Finkel. Plus, 2027 top-rated prospects Kasi Currie (DL), Jaxsen Stokes (RB), Miles Baker (S), and Faruq Muhammad (S), and you can see that this will be a tough challenge for the Lancers. Orange Lutheran’s offensive lineman Sam Utu (Alabama) is the only player that made the CalHiSports’ top 100 for the class of 2026 – he’ll commit to Alabama. But the players to watch for them are 2027 prospects Nico Bland (#51, WR), Chris Flores (#72 – 247 Sports in CA) at wide receiver, and Lucas Rhoa (OT, #32). The star power of this game should jump off the TV screens, and don’t be surprised to see this game as part of the CIFSS Game of the Week on a rare Saturday night.
4) Corona Centennial at Rancho Cucamonga,Friday, September 19th, Week 4
Once again, some might have an issue with this one, but we really like this matchup in the Inland Empire. It could be Southern California’s version of an old-school Big-12 game, with offenses scoring points at a lightning-fast pace. Statisticians might need to work overtime to keep up with both teams. The highest-rated player for the class of 2026 on CalHiSports’ top 100 for the Huskies is two-way standout Keawe Browne. Linebacker Jonathan McKinley, ranked #55 from Cal-Berkeley, and Justin Lewis (#81, DB) are the other two players who made the top 100. Four defensive players are on the top 100 for 247 Sports on the defensive side: Miles Schirmer (DE), Jaden Walk-Green (S), Brett Smith (S), and Augus Saunders (CB). It was a tough last two weeks of the 2024 season for the Cougars, as they lost the regular-season finale to Damien and then fell to Murrieta Valley (49-42) in a first-round shootout. They have two top-level players in 2025 OL Malik White (6-5, 310, OL, SDSU commit) and 2027 defensive back prospect Nathaniel Mensah (6-2, 165). The Cougars do have a returning QB, Jacob Chambers (90-146, 1,677 yards, 18 TDs), coming back, and that is always a major data point for identifying top teams in the Southern Section.
5) Serra (No Cal) at St. John Bosco, Saturday, September 13th, Week 3
The Braves face many top-tier opponents on their schedule, most of whom are away on the East Coast. When it comes to local games, this one caught our attention. The Braves, as expected, are stacked with talent, starting with CalHiSports’ #22 Class of 2026 prospect Daniel Odom (Oklahoma commit) at wide receiver, and #44 rated prospect Dutch Horisk (Oregon Commit) at defensive end. The Braves also boast the second-highest rated safety for the class of 2027, Isala Aisa Wily-Ava (#16 for 2027 in CA, 247 Sports). That is just one of the next-level talents that SJB has. Serra lost their first-round playoff game last year, but you have to applaud coach Patrick Walsh’s attempt to have his teams play high-level teams in Southern California. You can’t say that for other top-rated teams in No Cal.
6) Oaks Christian at Serra, Friday, Sept. 19th, Week 4
Expect sparks to fly in one of the most exciting series in the Southern Section. Both teams are very familiar with each other thanks to high-level playoff games over the years. Expect nothing to change in 2025. Lions head coach Charlie Collins has done a good job maintaining high expectations at OC, and this year they have three Class of 2025 players who land on CalHiSports’ Top-100 list. The highest-rated player is #6-ranked Davon Benjamin, a Defensive Back. Others include USC commit Deshonne Redeaux (#11, DB) and defensive lineman Joseph Peko (#46). Add in Alifeleti Tuihalamaka and Zayne Reed along the defensive line for the Class of 2027, and Oaks Christian fans should be excited about the upcoming season. Serra is Serra – and that’s all you need to know when the subject turns to them. Coach Scott Altenberg welcomes back 2026 elite defensive lineman Khary Wilder (Ohio State commit) and the top-rated athlete in the state for the class of 2027 in CB Duvay Williams (6-1, 170). Fans are encouraged to arrive at the stadium early for what is expected to be a highly anticipated and entertaining matchup.
7) Servite at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Friday, Sept 12th, Week 3
Anytime a Trinity League team visits the San Fernando Valley to face a Mission League team, count me in. This is the conclusion of a home-and-home series that saw the Friars win 38-17 as part of their 2024 redemption tour. Servite always has a player or two who are elite, and that’s the case with CalHiSports Top 100 Luke Sorenson (6-4, 245, Nebraska commit). Another offensive player sure to attract attention is running back Benjamin Harris (2027, #66). The Friars also have a couple of top-rated players for the class of 2027 in Isaiah Leilua (LB) and Drew Fielder (OL). The Knights feature several next-level players, highlighted by WR Luc Weaver (6-3, 205, USC commit). It’s a great matchup in the heart of the nonleague schedule.
8) Newbury Park at Millikan, August 22nd, Week 0
Anytime the top-rated quarterback in Southern California visits the 562, it’s a must-see. Michigan fans can watch quarterback Brady Smigiel as he heads to the Long Beach area to face a team that is one of the most improved programs in Southern California. The added twist is that this could serve as a preview of a Division 2 playoff matchup. Millikan has two top-tier players in 2026 TE Jude Nelson (Colorado St commit) and 2027 WR Jay Williams. Both defenses will be tested, and we could see a high-scoring game, which always boosts ticket sales. This is a surprisingly good game.
9) Edison at Palos Verdes, September 13th, Week 3
Not many times do you see a game featuring a matchup of returning state champions – but we have one here. Most importantly, expect this game to start at 3:30 (Palos Verdes doesn’t play at night due to neighborhood restrictions). Edison defensive coordinator Troy Thomas will have his hands full trying to contain the second-highest rated QB in the state for the Class of 2027, Ryan Rakowski (5-11, 165, #30) according to 247 Sports. Another 2027 player who will be under the microscope is Joshua Williams (LB, 6-0, 200). Guy Gardner is one of the legendary coaches in Southern California, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see this team jump into Division 2. Edison returns Sam Thomson (101-158, 1,559 yards, 14 TDs) at quarterback, which is a significant boost. Will Harrison, a defensive back from the class of 2026, should stand out on a defense that doesn’t figure to make too many mistakes. As non-league games go, this should be a matchup of two well-coached teams.
10) St. Paul at Bishop Amat, August 22nd, Week 0
Looking for a game where emotions are at an all-time high? Want a game where the level of hatred should be off the charts? Want a game where both teams couldn't care less about each other? This is it! It doesn’t get any better than this game, which has been around for decades. Just mentioning the names to each school stirs up emotions. Things are changing at Amat with the arrival of Kory Minor as the head coach. They’ve had many transfers come in, but the biggest one is Kanan Khansarinia from Orange Lutheran. He’s a local kid, as his older brother Kasen was a star baseball player at San Dimas HS and is now at UCLA. We’ve known about this kid for years, and we can tell you this is a huge pickup for Bishop Amat. Another player expected to be a key part of the offense is Caleb Bey. Gabriel Castaneda had a full year in coach Mike Moschetti’s offense at St. Paul as quarterback, which is a big deal. Marley Luatua (137-835, 10 TDs) is a junior who played big for his size in 2025 at the running back position. Plus, with the tailgating atmosphere at Amat, this game has fireworks written all over it to kick off the season.
BIG PASSING LEAGUE TOURNAMENT WEEKEND
With the July 4th holiday rapidly approaching for everyone (and it’s on a Friday this year), many football teams will be in action in passing league tournaments throughout the basin.
We’ll start in the San Gabriel Valley with the Baldwin Park tournament. Muir and Alta Loma are among the top teams competing. Unlike last year, there will not be a lineman competition this year. St. John Bosco will have their annual eight-team passing league tournament this weekend, with Servite and Serra among the teams to watch.
Out in the South Bay, Redondo Union will host a major tournament featuring Mira Costa, North Torrance, St. Francis, and Calabasas as the teams to watch. The biggest tournament in the 805 area will be held at Simi Valley, with a large 18-team field that includes Hart, St. Bonaventure, Sierra Canyon, and Chaminade as strong contenders for the title.
Moving the South Orange County, Mission Viejo, Mater Dei, Oceanside, Oaks Christian headline an “off the charts” South Orange County Passing League tournament. Troy High School is the site of the “Clash of Champions” passing league tournament with Villa Park, Foothill, South Hills, and Santa Fe as the teams to watch.
So, get your sunscreen out and stay hydrated, as temperatures are projected to be in the 90s.
PODCAST
We just had our end-of-the-year podcast with CIF Southern Section commissioner Mike West and the editor/publisher of Calhisports.com, Mark Tennis. You can access the pod here, or you can also find it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts app.
BOOK REVIEW
We have a good one for you next week. Stay tuned.
FINALLY…
A common theme among high school football coaches throughout Southern California when discussing their teams.
The shortage of defensive linemen. We’ve never seen so many teams with coaches worried about the depth at these two positions. Just look at the top 100 players for the class of 2026 recently published by CalHiSports.com, which clearly shows the situation. Only 9 defensive linemen made the list, making up just 8% of it.
For those players who live in public school areas but choose to attend private school football powerhouse programs, you can understand the frustration that coaches are experiencing. Among that group of nine defensive linemen, only Leuzinger’s Samu Moala is going to a Power 4 school – Texas A&M.
“I’ve never seen it this bad,” one Inland Empire coach told me recently. “We just can’t find any of them out here. I have no idea whether COVID had something to do with it, but it’s disheartening.”
Another coach we talked to recently said, “I hate to say it, but we might just line up with two defensive linemen and players blitzing from space. And I am not the only one feeling this helpless. I have a ton of skill players, and many of them we are counting on. I just don’t know how we can rush the quarterback this year.”
What has caused all of this? It’s hard to say. Some of it comes from social media, where it’s very difficult to spot a lineman doing extraordinary things – unlike skill players, who are easier to identify. The other reason is that many kids aren’t “binge eating” and are trying to stay in shape. That’s why you’re seeing a resurgence of players at the Tight End position.
It’s interesting to note that there are seven tight ends in the top 100 for the class of 2026 listed by CalHiSports. Remember when coaches and offensive coordinators were begging for players to fill the tight end spot? Not anymore, and it’s easy to see why. It’s tough to earn a basketball scholarship at 6-4 or 6-5. In football, the threshold drops noticeably.
There are more than a few who have decided to pursue a career in wrestling, thanks to the popularity of mixed martial arts. The top three state wrestlers who medaled at the state championships didn’t play a down of football.
And don’t expect much to change in 2026 and 2027. As the popularity of 7 on 7 passing league club teams continues to rise, the race for that great defensive lineman will become even more intense.
Leave other coaches left out in the dust and throwing their hands up.
Have a great week.