2022 San Juan Football Preview

2022 SAN JUAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW

YOUR GUIDE TO THE SEASON: TEAM PREVIEWS, KEY PLAYERS AND MORE!

The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022

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YOUTH MOVEMENTS ABOUND FOR CITY’S HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMS

BY ZACH CAVANAGH

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By varying circumstances, each of San Juan Capistrano’s high school football teams has been put in the hands of its young players, with many sophomores and juniors in the spotlight. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

t’s just about time to fire up those Friday Night Lights once again across San Juan Capistrano. (Along with the occasional Thursday Night Lights, or the once-in-a-while Saturday Afternoon Sun.) Football is back in South Orange County, and San Juan Capistrano’s four high school teams are all bastions of incredibly exciting youth movements.

At the forefront is the city’s lone public school, San Juan Hills, which is home to two of the most high-profile sophomores in all of Orange County. Linebacker Weston Port was named a Freshman All-American by MaxPreps and holds 18 Division 1 college offers after offseason visits to Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan and BYU, among others. QuarterThe Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022

back Michael “Butter” Tollefsen also holds 14 Division 1 college offers from all reaches of the SEC, Pac-12, Big 10 and beyond.

JSerra will play in the most high-profile games of the season in San Juan Capistrano with one of the toughest schedules in the entire nation. The Lions were young last year, and while they gained experience, there are still plenty of sophomores and juniors who will take on the rigors of the Trinity League.

However, there’s a chance that JSerra isn’t all that far away from some big accomplishments.

St. Margaret’s has its own young roster after graduating many impact players from last season’s CIF-SS Division 9 Finalist. The Tartans also have another new challenge as they move up into the Orange Coast League to battle some of the county’s largest public schools,

but the league allows St. Margaret’s to directly challenge for a CIF-SS playoff berth.

Capistrano Valley Christian boasts what may be its biggest roster in program history, enabling the Eagles to also play their first junior varsity games in school history. Like their former league rival St. Margaret’s, CVC has also joined a new league, as it banded together with other similarly positioned small schools to form a new conference. This gives the Eagles an avenue to avoid the fate of last season’s successful freelance team that didn’t make the CIF-SS playoffs. Now, like St. Margaret’s, CVC controls its own destiny for the CIF-SS playoffs.

It’s all just around the corner, as three teams kick off next week.

San Juan Hills gets the spotlight as the CIFSS Game of the Week when the Stallions host Page 14

Santa Margarita on Friday, Aug. 19, at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Bally Sports West.

JSerra opens at home against last season’s playoff opponent, Sierra Canyon, on Aug. 19, and St. Margaret’s gets the festivities going a day earlier on Thursday, Aug. 18, at Ontario Christian.

After their Week 0 opponent canceled, Capistrano Valley Christian pushes forward with a nine-game slate that gets going on Aug. 25 against Calvary Chapel at Segerstrom High School in Santa Ana. Check out each of our season previews for San Juan Capistrano’s four high school squads, and get ready for another wild season of Southern California high school football.

Set … hike! thecapistranodispatch.com

San Juan Hills looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2021 season and return to the top of the league and the CIF-SS playoffs. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

SAN JUAN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE AUGUST 19

SAN JUAN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

SANTA MARGARITA

YOUNG, EXPLOSIVE TALENT LEADS SAN JUAN HILLS REBOUND

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BY ZACH CAVANAGH

CYPRESS Western HS, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 2

ROOSEVELT (EASTVALE) Roosevelt HS, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 9

YORBA LINDA

an Juan Hills has a stable of young Stallions ready to take hold of this football team and charge back to the CIF-SS playoffs.

Last season was a disappointment for San Juan Hills by most objective measures. The Stallions lost a handful of close contests against an incredibly tough schedule, and despite a Division 3-level power rating, a 3-7 record kept San Juan Hills out of CIF-SS’ new playoff system.

San Juan Hills head coach Rob Frith has his gripes about the playoff model, which is based off in-season calpreps.com power ratings and slots teams into playoff divisions immediately after the regular season, but he says the team was able to turn the page quickly last year.

“As soon as the season was over, we moved on,” Frith said. “Got back in the weight room, started the process all over again and just focused on ourselves. Whether you go 3-7 or win a CIF championship, you have to erase it and start all over again. Some years, you roll with momentum or sometimes you have to build momentum.”

While San Juan Hills lost its entire starting receiving corps to graduation and NCAA Division 1 opportunities, it feels as if San Juan Hills is rolling with momentum, as well as building.

The Stallions grabbed national attention over the offseason for its two best players, who just happened to be freshmen last season: sophomore quarterback Michael “Butter” Tollefson and sophomore linebacker Weston Port.

Port, listed at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, was named a first-team Freshman All-American by MaxPreps and enters his sophomore year with 18 Division 1 offers, including offseason visits to Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, BYU and Utah. Port has offers from the Pac-12, SEC, ACC, Big 10 and beyond.

“It was super fun seeing all the schools and stuff,” Port said. “It’s really cool just to build connections with coaches and see the campuses. It’s a good building experience. … I don’t really focus on the media and everything that’s happening around me. I just focus on what I can control.”

Port led San Juan Hills in tackles (91), tackles for loss (25) and sacks (12). He was already a dynamic force for the Stallions’ stoppers, but he’ll get more work in coverage and will also move all The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022

SJHHS, 7:30 p.m.

••• AUGUST 25

around the San Juan Hills defensive front.

Offensively, San Juan Hills is now completely in the hands of Tollefson. Tollefson was part of a three-way quarterback battle last season and took the reins for good starting in the fifth game of his freshman season. He finished with a 60% completion rate, 1,307 yards passing, 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions.

“I remember the first time I went in, I was so nervous,” Tollefson said. “But over time, you start to get more and more confident and realize it’s just football. You pick up the speed, how defenses move, how momentum works.

I’ve gotten a lot more confident.”

Tollefson, who enters the season with 14 Division 1 offers also from the SEC, Pac-12, Big 10, ACC and more, has a new group of receivers to integrate with, along with Brayden Bockler, a senior returner at tight end. Bockler is the only returning player to actually catch a varsity pass last season.

It’ll still be tough sledding early for San Juan Hills with the same extremely competitive schedule as last season, but league play will be an easier task as the Stallions drop down to the Sea View League. Despite having only three home games, San Juan Hills should make its way back to the playoffs this season.

San Juan Hills opens the season at home against Santa Margarita out of the Trinity League on Friday, Aug. 19. The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports West as the CIF-SS Game of the Week.

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Yorba Linda HS, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 15

CORONA DEL MAR Newport Harbor HS, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 23

EL MODENA SJHHS, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 30

TESORO Tesoro HS, 7 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 14

EL TORO* El Toro HS, 7 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 21

TRABUCO HILLS* Trabuco Hills HS, 7 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 28

ALISO NIGUEL* SJHHS, 7 p.m. *Sea View League game

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JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE AUGUST 19

SIERRA CANYON JSCHS, 7 p.m.

••• AUGUST 26

CHAMINADE (WEST HILLS) Chaminade HS, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 2

NEWPORT HARBOR JSCHS, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 9

CENTENNIAL (CORONA) Centennial HS, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 16

RANCHO CUCAMONGA JSCHS, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 30

MATER DEI* JSCHS, 7 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 7

SANTA MARGARITA* JSerra’s young players went through a trial by fire last season, but the Lions weren’t far off from success, which they hope will shine through this season. Photos: Keaton Larson

JSERRA LOOKS TO TURN PRESSURE INTO PROGRESS

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he JSerra football team is the object in the mirror that’s closer than it appears.

A quick glance at last year’s 3-8 overall record and 0-5 record in the Trinity League would have observers believe it’s still tough sledding for the Lions to be successful, especially with a very young roster. But, of course, it’s tough.

JSerra had the second-toughest schedule in the country behind only St. John Bosco, and they do still play in the Trinity League, which again features the top two teams in the country in Mater Dei and Bosco.

Despite all that, the Lions really weren’t all that far off from real success last season.

JSerra coach Scott McKnight is quick to point out that the Lions lost to CIF-SS Division 2 champion Orange Lutheran by only two points, and that JSerra’s Division 2 first-round game at Sierra Canyon came down to the very last play.

JSerra was extremely young at several positions last season, but the Lions survived the pressure cookers of the Trinity League and The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022

BY ZACH CAVANAGH

their tough schedule, which sets up JSerra to be quite competitive in 2022.

One of those young players who absorbed the pressure, and now has some of that diamond starting to shine through is junior quarterback Zander Singh. Singh took over the reins late in the season for JSerra, and in that first-round game at Sierra Canyon, it was Singh who nearly got JSerra all the way back with 308 yards passing and five touchdowns.

“He’s a good decision-maker,” McKnight

Saddleback College, 7 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 14

ST. JOHN BOSCO* SJBHS, 7 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 21

SERVITE* JSCHS, 7 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 28

ORANGE LUTHERAN* said. “He’s accurate. He’s got good awareness. Awareness, decision-making, accuracy.

You ask anyone about the attributes of a quarterback, if you have those three, you’ll be happy. Everybody talks about the big arm, or you’ve got to be 6-foot-2; a lot of guys who are 6-2, 6-3 can’t throw a pea into the ocean.

We’re looking for a guy that can make a good decision pre-snap, and as the play quickly evolves, he makes the right decision.”

Singh stands at just 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, but coming into the fall as the No. 1 guy for JSerra on offense, he’s taking command and gaining confidence.

“He’s gotten better and better and better.

He’s starting to grasp our offense a lot more,” McKnight said. “Our offense is like four years of Spanish. You can’t install four years of Spanish in one year. Last year was Spanish 1.

This year is Spanish 2. “ Additionally for the Lions, and especially for Singh, is the growth of the offensive line.

The group up front went through a trial by fire last season with two sophomores and three freshmen on the offensive line. Returning allCIF senior center David Tuliau will be a leader for that group, and junior Kainoa Davis, listed Page 16

Orange Coast College, 7 p.m. * Trinity League game

at 6-foot-4, 266 pounds, will start at left tackle.

McKnight said the JSerra defense will attack this season, as the Lions need that group to be versatile and aggressive.

Circle JSerra’s season finale against Orange Lutheran at Orange Coast College on Oct. 28 as an enormous one, with likely ramifications for playoff berths and league seedings. thecapistranodispatch.com

ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

ST. MARGARET’S WELCOMES CHALLENGE IN NEW PUBLIC-SCHOOL LEAGUE

U

BY ZACH CAVANAGH

phill challenges are nothing new for the St. Margaret’s football team.

The small private school hidden away on La Novia Ave. has always punched well above its weight. Even recently, the Tartans faced plenty of adversity over the past two seasons, and yet, last year, St. Margaret’s performed to its high standard of success.

The Tartans went 1-2 during the COVID-delayed and shortened 2020-21 season with only 17 players on the roster. Just months later in the fall of 2021, St. Margaret’s began its season 2-4. Two months after that, the Tartans had won seven straight games, earned at at-large berth into the CIF-SS playoffs and advanced to the Division 9 championship.

This season, St. Margaret’s has a new challenge—one that stacks several things against the Tartans, but also provides great opportunity. The Tartans move on from the no-man’s land of being a freelance team back into a league—a league full of large public schools in the Orange Coast League.

“At the end of the day, we’re always going to be the smallest numbers,” St. Margaret’s coach Kory Minor said. “It’s who we are. It’s part of our makeup. We’re used to it.”

St. Margaret’s, an institution of about 400 high school students, won’t be the only private school in the league, as Calvary Chapel is there with its roughly 500 high school students. However, the next-lowest school in enrollment is Estancia at around 1,200, then Saddleback at 1,600, Costa Mesa and Orange at 1,800, and Santa Ana at a whopping 2,800.

But, again, nothing new for St. Margaret’s, and the Tartans are ready to compete.

“We’re going to fight. We’re going to scratch. We’re going to claw,” Minor said. “We’re going to surprise some folks in that league.”

Being in a league does provide one big advantage for St. Margaret’s over its CIF-SS finalist predecessor: automatic playoff berths. After the various iterations of the San Joaquin and Academy Leagues dissolved in football, St. Margaret’s was forced to play as a freelance team, which meant having to be selected for an at-large playoff berth, if there were any available.

The Tartans got lucky then, but now it’s a race for a top-three league spot for the playoffs, along with the opportunity to play for a league championship.

St. Margaret’s will take its swings with a younger group, as some of its biggest impact players graduated, including their Mr. Everything, Will Stahl, and their starting quarterback, Jack Ruff.

Luckily, the Tartans will have another Ruff under center, as Jack’s younger brother, Max, a junior, takes the reins. Max Ruff also retains one of his brother’s favorite deep threats in senior wide receiver Derek Smith. Smith frequently took the top off the defense with 43 catches for 627 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Fellow senior Sam Dunnell joins Smith in the receiving corps and defensive secondary, and they’ll both be relied on as senior leaders. Dunnell, a 6-foot-4 cornerback, caught four touchdowns and grabbed two interceptions last year. Dunnell recently received a college offer from San Diego State.

St. Margaret’s has returners throughout the offensive and defensive lines. Linebackers including seniors Andrew Miehe, Brandon Miller and junior Battle Gideons solidify the middle of that defense, which will certainly be tested against the deeper public school teams.

In the Orange Coast League, the Tartans open against the two toughest members of the group— Santa Ana and league champion Orange—which gives St. Margaret’s plenty of time to make up ground.

That is, of course, if the Tartans don’t do what they usually do: rise to the challenge.

The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022

St. Margaret’s takes on another challenge by moving up to the Orange Coast League, but the Tartans can now play for automatic playoff berths. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL SCHEDULE AUGUST 18

SEPTEMBER 9

ONTARIO CHRISTIAN

MUIR (PASADENA)

OCHS, 7 p.m.

••• AUGUST 26

SMES, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 16

WESTERN

SANTA ANA*

SMES, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 3

SMES, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 23

CHRISTIAN (EL CAJON)

ORANGE*

Christian HS, 7 p.m.

SMES, 7 p.m.

Page 17

SEPTEMBER 30

ESTANCIA* Estancia HS, 7 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 14

COSTA MESA* Costa Mesa HS, 7 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 21

SADDLEBACK* SMES, 7 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 27

CALVARY CHAPEL* Segerstrom HS, 7:30 p.m. *Orange Coast League

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CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

CVC BRINGS EXPANDING PROGRAM INTO NEW LEAGUE

BY ZACH CAVANAGH

CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SCHEDULE AUGUST 25

CALVARY CHAPEL Segerstrom HS, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 2

GODINEZ Aliso Niguel HS, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 9

LAGUNA BEACH Aliso Niguel HS, 7 p.m.

••• SEPTEMBER 17

DESERT CHRISTIAN Aliso Niguel HS, 3 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 1

LINFIELD CHRISTIAN* Aliso Niguel HS, 3 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 7

WESTERN CHRISTIAN* Western Christian HS, 7 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 14

RIVERSIDE PREP* Riverside Prep HS, 7 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 21

TRINITY CLASSICAL* TBA, 7 p.m.

••• OCTOBER 28

ARROWHEAD CHRISTIAN* TBA, 7 p.m.

The Capistrano Valley Christian football team enters the season with its largest roster ever, enabling the Eagles to schedule their first-ever junior varsity games. Photos: Zach Cavanagh

T

he past two-plus years have been a wild time of adjusting circumstances for the Capistrano Valley Christian football team.

When head coach Eric Preszler began his second stint with the Eagles in April 2020, the program had just seven football players.

Preszler did all he could to scrounge together a roster by pulling from other CVC athletics programs, but even with a roster somewhat intact, the Eagles couldn’t put together a season in the COVID-delayed spring 2021 window.

Last season, CVC had an influx of 13 freshmen, and the Eagles took off. Capistrano Valley Christian averaged more than 32 points a game while allowing an average of just more than 14 points, to soar to an 8-2 record. It was an incredibly impressive feat for Preszler’s program, but, unfortunately, it was one that went unrewarded.

As the San Joaquin League dissolved, CVC was forced to play as a freelance team last season, which meant no matter what, the Eagles had to apply for the CIF-SS playoffs as an at-large team. The 8-2 record wasn’t good enough, as the division grouping CVC was slotted into by the new calpreps.com power ranking system had more higher-ranked at-large candidates ahead of the Eagles than there were spots available.

“You just do the best with the situation we got,” Preszler said. “We turned the page pretty quick. It was a big deal for about a week.”

The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022

With the whirlwind this tenure has been, things continue to be on the rise for Capistrano Valley Christian.

The Eagles will be in a league this season—the six-team Mesquite League, one of four leagues that make up the newly formed Small Schools Conference—so the Eagles will have Page 18

* Mesquite League

three playoff berths for which to contend.

Additionally, this might be the largest roster the CVC football program has ever had, according to Preszler. There are 42 players on the current Eagles roster, which also enables CVC to field its first-ever junior varsity squad for a handful of games.

It’s a rising tide for the Capistrano Valley Christian football program, as now the returning players for the Eagles actually have game experience and not simply time served at the school.

Leader of the pack is senior Hayden Carlson, who is committed to Indiana for baseball. Carlson will be everywhere on the field for the Eagles as a running back, wide receiver, wildcat quarterback and safety.

“He’s got this maturity on how to handle yourself as an athlete,” Preszler said. “Very structured, self-disciplined, and eager to be the best version of himself.”

Sophomore quarterback Nate Richie will man the helm for the traditional offensive sets, and Preszler had high praise, saying that Richie is as accurate as any quarterback he’s coached, including his days at Saddleback College.

Defensively, the Eagles will push up front with a strong group of four defensive linemen: seniors Logan Kelly and Kennedy Abang and juniors Kelly Glover and Chase Carney.

Defensive MVP Jack Gallo returns at linebacker after leading the team in tackles as a freshman.

Look out for the Eagles, as the program keeps flying higher. thecapistranodispatch.com

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

PLAYERS TO WATCH OFFENSE TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ZACH CAVANAGH

1

2

3

MICHAEL “BUTTER” TOLLEFSON

ZANDER SINGH

DEREK SMITH

SAN JUAN HILLS QB, Soph.

Tollefson earned the name “Butter” for his smooth release, which showed in his freshman campaign for the Stallions. Tollefsen completed 60% of his passes for 1,307 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. Tollefsen is much more confident in the offense this season and has, so far, collected 14 Division 1 college offers.

The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022

JSERRA QB, Jr. Singh didn’t get the full starting control of the JSerra offense until late in his sophomore season, but he provided a much-needed spark. Singh threw for more than 300 yards and five touchdowns in JSerra’s first-round playoff loss, but it was valuable experience as he takes over more of the Lions offense this season.

ST. MARGARET’S WR, Sr. Smith will be key to opening up opposing defenses for the St. Margaret’s offense.

Smith already showcased himself as deep threat last season with 627 yards and 11 touchdowns on 43 catches. Smith’s speed and senior leadership will be integral to the Tartan attack. He’ll also get some snaps on defense.

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4

HAYDEN CARLSON

CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN ATH, Sr. Carlson will be everywhere and do everything for Capistrano Valley Christian. He will play at running back and receiver, and he will run wildcat packages as a quarterback.

Carlson will also play on defense at safety.

He is an all-around athlete, including being a Division 1 baseball commit to Indiana.

thecapistranodispatch.com

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT

PLAYERS TO WATCH DEFENSE TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ZACH CAVANAGH

1

2

3

WESTON PORT

CLARENCE CHANEY

SAM DUNNELL

SAN JUAN HILLS LB, Soph.

Port was a man among boys last season, even though he was a freshman. Port has gotten bigger and stronger in the offseason with a now 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame, and he worked on his coverage abilities. Port led San Juan Hills in tackles and sacks, and he has 18 Division 1 college offers.

The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2022

JSERRA LB, Jr. Chaney steps in for a big opportunity in the middle of the JSerra defense. The Lions reload at defensive line, so it’s up to Chaney and the linebacking corps to fill the gaps. Chaney plays hard-nosed and comes straight downhill. He improved his coverage skills in the offseason to round out his game.

ST. MARGARET’S CB, Sr. Dunnell is a unique player with his 6-foot-4 frame being unusual for a cornerback, but that’s part of what Dunnell loves about playing the position. He pulled in two interceptions last year, and he’ll be a game-changer on defense again. Dunnell also will feature in the St. Margaret’s offense as a receiver.

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JACK GALLO

Capistrano Valley Christian LB, Soph.

Gallo led the Capistrano Valley Christian defense as a freshman last year with 62 tackles, including 43 solo tackles and 13 tackles for loss. Gallo was named defensive MVP for his efforts. A stronger defensive line for the Eagles will open lanes for Gallo to make an even bigger impact.

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