Southern California High School Football Report: 2025 Preview - Irvine, Westminster (Free Preview)
Irvine is looking to contend for an Iota League title while Westminster brings back a lot of talent for the upcoming season.
Photo: Irvine Football on IG
This is a free preview of our 2025 football capsules for the SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone and the Southern California High School Football Report. We give you more for your buck than any other publication in the area. We are the only service that offers you football stats, current and past CalPreps Ratings, notes on each game on the team’s schedule, and much more. Our goal is for you to be the most informed football fan in the area and to support our reader-supported publication. As the saying goes, “We obsess so that you don’t have to.” — JE
Irvine High School
Coach: Tom Ricci
League: Iota
Social Media: x: @Vaquerofootball; IG: @Vaquerofootball
2024 Record: 7-5
2024 CalPreps Rating: 3.7
2025 Calpreps Preseason Rating: -3.8 (3rd best in league)
Number of Returning Players: 12
Number of All-League Players Returning: 4
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Tom Ricci
Number of Off Players Returning: 7
Rushing yards: 1,672 yards
Passing Yards: 1,457 yards
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Senior, Sina Saferzadeh - QB - Senior
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
Kota Seshimo - Junior - 6'5 290'
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Thomas Mac
Number of Def. Players Returning: 5
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Smith Spivey - Free Safety
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER SKILL PLAYERS
Kyle Fogarty - Slot Rec.
COMMENTS FROM COACH RICCI: “Strengths are we had a lot of sophomores starting last year that will be returning. Weakness is defensive line is all new kids.”
2025 Schedule
Week 0: vs. Northwood
Although Northwood has won two of the last three games in the series, Irvine has a 12-7 record since 2004.
Week 1: at Portola
The Vaqueros have a 4 GWS against Portola, which includes a narrow 24-19 win in 2024.
Week 2: at Woodbridge
Irvine has gained a significant hold in the series with a 5 GWS and easily captured LY’s game, 36-0.
Week 3: vs. Laguna Hills
The Vaqueros have been on the losing end of this series, holding a 5-13 record since 2004. LY, Laguna Hills extended their winning streak to 2G with a 28-10 win.
Week 4: at Kennedy/La Palma
This is the back end of a home-and-home series that saw Irvine win LY, 28-14.
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: at Canyon/Anaheim
In a game that proved to be one of the top wins in 2024, Irvine came away with a 57-24 win and extended their winning streak to 2G.
Week 7: at El Toro
With the help of releaguing, LY was the first time that both teams played each other, with the Vaqueros coming away with a 22-17 win.
Week 8: vs. Troy
Irvine has split the last four games against Troy, losing LY’s battle 49-13.
Week 9: vs. Sonora
The Vaqueros suffered a 28-20 loss against the Raiders, tying the series at 1-1 since 2004.
Week 10: vs. Santa Ana
Thanks for competitive equity, LY was the first time that both teams played each other, with Irvine coming away with a 19-6 win.
CRYSTAL BALL: It was another solid season for those involved with Irvine football as they finished in second place in the Iota league but suffered a first-round loss to Salesian at home. You have to tip your cap to Ricci, who has brought consistency to the program and made them viable contenders to win a league title. With Troy’s presence in the Iota, winning a league title will be a challenge, but we love the progress Ricci and his staff have made. They will have a new QB in Saferzadeh to replace 1,300-yard passer Bui, but he has been with the program, so the acclimation process shouldn’t be that slow. The bigger problem is replacing RB Brandon Figueroa (1,248 yards, 9 TDs). Seamus Hoffman, one of the sophomores that Ricci is counting on, is the leading candidate to take those carries. As with the majority of teams we have spoken with, the depth at the DL position is real. The back seven appears to be a strong point for DC T Mac, with Spivey being the leader of the group. We like what we see in Irvine. Our AI models are very interesting; with a ceiling of 8-2 and a floor of 5-5. Seven of our 10 models have this team either 7-3 or 8-2. One last note: opposing teams will be pleased to know that new field turf will be installed at Irvine for the 2025 season during their dead period.
Projected Record: 7-3.
Photo: Westminster Football on IG
Westminster High School
Coach: Alex De Giacomo
League: Kappa
Social Media: IG: @Westminsterfootball & X: @WHSLionfootball
2024 Record: 3-7
2024 HSRatings.com: -26.2
2025 HSRatings.com Preseason Rating: -31.6 (5th best in league)
Number of Returning Players: 35
Number of All-League Players Returning: 3
OFFENSE
Offensive Coordinator: Ryan Balzer
Number of Off Players Returning: 5
Key Offensive Skills Players Returning
Jason Guzman 12, 5’10, 160, 2nd Team all league, WR.
Noah Pedraza 12, 6’3, 185, WR/TE.
Julius Garcia 12, 5’10 156, WR/RB.
Gabe Ortega 12, 6’2, 165, WR.
Nekko Keyes 12, 6’3, 195, WR.
Ryan Pham 12, 5’7, 145, WR.
Xxavier Ramirez 11, 5’11, 200, WR/TE/RB.
Hunter Allen 12, 5’10, 190, RB/WR.
Alim Hopwood 11, 5’9, 165, RB.
Van Nguyen 12, 5’10, 185, RB.
Kaysen Anthony 11, 5’8, 155, QB.
Key Offensive Lineman Returning
Anthony Laurean 12, 6’1, 254, 2nd team all league, ANY.
Angel Ramirez 11, 6’2 262, G/T. Dominic Tran 11, 5’10, 225, ANY.
Brandon Klix 11, 5’11 255, C/G.
Danny Gomez 11, 6’1, 260, C/G.
Jose Guevara 12, 5’10, 245, C/G,
Jesus Garcia 11, 5’10, 246, G.
DEFENSE
Defensive Coordinator: Alex De Giacomo
Number of Def. Players Returning: 7
Key Defensive Skills Players Returning
Jason Guzman 12, 5’10, 160, 2nd Team all league, DB.
Noah Pedraza 12, 6’3, 185, LB/DB.
Julius Garcia 12, 5’10 156, DB.
Gabe Ortega 12, 6’2, 165, DB.
Ryan Pham 12, 5’7, 145, DB.
Xxavier Ramirez 11, 5’11, 200, LB.
Hunter Allen 12, 5’10, 190, LB.
Alim Hopwood 11, 5’9, 165, LB.
Van Nguyen 12, 5’10, 185, LB.
Jacob Garcia 12, 5’10, 185, LB.
Key Defensive Lineman Returning
Anthony Laurean 12, 6’1, 254, 2nd team all league, ANY.
A’Marri Hopwood 12, 6’3, 195, 2nd Team All League, DE.
Angel Ramirez 11, 6’2 262, DT.
Dominic Tran 11, 5’10, 225, DT.
Aaron Bernal 11, 5’10, 190, DE.
TOP NEWCOMING/TRANSFER PLAYERS
Ricky Mireles 12, 5’10, 160, WR/DB.
Alex Gomez 10, 5’10 200, OL/DL.
Adair Velasquez 10, 5’7, 150, DB/WR.
Paul Cruz 10, 6’2, 225, OL/DL.
Beckham Sharp 9, 6’1, 180, QB.
Nathan Galena Walsh 10, 6’0, 165, WR/TE/LB.
Jeremiah Rodriguez 12, 5’10, 195, RB/DL.
Nathan Bernal 10, 5’8, 155, QB.
Ian Chaccon 10, 6’2, 260, OL/DL.
COMMENTS FROM COACH DE GIACOMO: “We have a good group of skill players returning and some OL/DL, and a great mindset. It’s still too early to tell on the strengths and weaknesses, though.”
2025 Schedule
Week 0: vs. Sunny Hills
This is the first time that both teams will be playing each. In home games since 2004, Westminster had a 72-49-1 record.
Week 1: at Buena Park
This is the first time that both teams have faced off since 2013, when the Lions suffered a 47-15 loss.
Week 2: vs. Calvary Chapel/Santa Ana
This is also the first time that both teams have faced each other (going back to 2003). In nonleague games since 2003, Westminster has a 56-64-1 record.
Week 3: at Canyon Springs
This is the third team that the Lions will be facing for the first time. In road games since 2003, Westminster has a 38-37 record.
Week 4: vs. Saddleback
The Lions have had the upper hand in this series with a 6-0 record since 2003. The last time the two teams played each other was in 2009, when Westminster won, 40-28.
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: vs. Brea Olinda
The Lions have lost the last two meetings against BO, including a 49-0 loss LY.
Week 7: at Garden Grove
Westminster snapped a three-game losing streak to GG with a thrilling 41-32 win.
Week 8: at Segerstrom
Segerstrom owns a 3GWS in the series. LY, the Lions were shut out, 27-0.
Week 9: at Esperanza
The Lions have suffered two consecutive losses to the Aztecs, including a 35-6 loss last year.
Week 10: vs. St. Margaret’s
The Lions have a 2 GLS to SM’s, including a 43-0 loss LY.
CRYSTAL BALL: There is optimism at Westminster, in which many of the players who lacked Friday Night Lights experience got some in 2024. Although the year didn’t go the way that Lions fans wanted, the great part is that depth will not be an issue in 2025. Key pieces to the football chessboard are back with AL players Laurean, Guzman, and Hopwood, the key players to watch. Although Kaysen Anthony returns to the QB position, he’ll get pushed by incoming freshman Sharp. One position that could turn into a position of strength is along the defensive line, where 5 DL return. Many teams will not be pleased to hear that. The schedule is interesting, where Westminster should be able to win their first three games before the sledding becomes a bit tougher. Finding more than one win in the league is tough, so the Canyon Springs (9-3 in 2024) and Saddleback (6-5, 2024) games are critical for postseason entry. Our AI models are relatively consistent, with a best-case scenario of 5-5 and a floor of 2-8. Could this be one of our “Surprise Teams of 2025?” Stay tuned.
Projected Record: 4-6