Sports

Football: South Coast League Preview

Preview: San Clemente is one of four teams vying for the second—and final—automatic playoff berth behind heavy favorite Mission Viejo.

By Martin Henderson

Taking a look at the South Coast League heading into the 2013 high school football season.

SOUTH COAST

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Coaches’ Predicted Order of Finish

1. Mission Viejo (11-1 in 2012, 4-0 in league

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2. Trabuco Hills (5-5, 1-3)

3. El Toro (9-2, 3-1)

4. Tesoro (5-5, 1-3)

5. San Clemente (5-5, 1-3)

HOW IT SHAKES OUT: The league has two playoff berths, and barring Armageddon, one of them will go to Mission Viejo. The Diablos are loaded on offense, and they routinely develop enough on defense to get the job done. Although Trabuco Hills is a favorite to get the second playoff berth, the Mustangs have always been runner-up to Tesoro or San Clemente for the league’s upper tier, so they will have to prove themselves. El Toro Coach Robert Frith rode the arm of Conner Manning the last couple of years, and anyone can be good if they have a good class; now the Chargers’ sense of program will be tested and whether their excellence can be perpetuated. Tesoro could be revitalized by new coach Matt Poston, who led Capistrano Valley to a share of the Sea View League title last year. San Clemente is a wild card. The Tritons have a terrific quarterback in Sam Darnold and some big receivers, but like the other programs in the league, they have to prove themselves. Seriously, second place is a toss-up.

EL TORO CHARGERS

Home site: Trabuco Hills High

Coach: Robert Frith (fifth year, 35-14)

Last year: 9-2 overall, 3-1 in league (second)

8/30 vs. La Habra

9/6 at Capistrano Valley

9/13 vs. Corona del Mar

9/20 at Palos Verdes, 3 p.m.

9/27 vs. Villa Park

10/4 at Claremont

10/11 at San Clemente

10/18 at Tesoro

10/25 vs. Trabuco Hills

11/8 vs. Mission Viejo

Notable: The opening of the school’s on-site stadium is likely still two months away, at least; the best scenario would be an opening against Trabuco Hills, with whom the Chargers currently share a stadium, but the extra adrenaline wouldn’t hurt if they opened against Mission Viejo in the league finale. Junior Trey Tinsley will try to fill Conner Manning's shoes at quarterback. Those are big shoes to fill. Manning's receivers helped him look good, and Tinsley hopes to get the same benefit from Dominic Collins and Brendan Lane. One thing that will help El Toro's bid for success: It will continue its frantic no huddle pace, which makes it tough on defenses and statisticians.

MISSION VIEJO DIABLOS

Home site: Mission Viejo High

Coach: Bob Johnson (15th year, 148-28-1)

All games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Last season: 11-1 overall, 5-0 in league (first)

8/30 vs. Honolulu Baldwin at War Memorial Stadium, 10 p.m.

9/6 vs. Corona Santiago, 7:30 p.m.

9/14 vs. Ramsey (NJ) Don Bosco Prep

9/20 vs. La Habra at Cerritos College

9/27 at Aliso Niguel

10/4 vs. Redlands East Valley at Citrus Valley

10/18 vs. San Clemente

10/25 vs. Tesoro

11/1 at Trabuco Hills

11/8 vs. El Toro at Trabuco Hills

Notable: Among the eight starters returning on offense are two game-changers, WR Sean Modster and RB Alex Suchesk, who two years ago were part of Santa Margarita’s State Bowl Champion team. The Diablos have only three starters back on defense, led by linebacker Zach Holland. With Ian Fieber at quarterback and the rest of the talent on both sides of the ball, if Mission doesn't reach the Pac-5 semifinals, the season will be considered a disappointment.

SAN CLEMENTE TRITONS

Home site: San Clemente High

Coach: Jaime Ortiz (second year, 5-5)

All games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Last year: 5-5 overall, 1-3 in league (tied for third)

8/30 vs. Long Beach Jordan

9/6 vs. Long Beach Cabrillo

9/12 at Dana Hills

9/20 vs. La Costa Canyyon

9/27 vs. Newport Harbor

10/4 vs. Edison at Huntington Beach

10/11 vs. El Toro*

10/18 at Mission Viejo*

11/1 vs. Tesoro*

11/8 at Trabuco Hills*

NOTABLE: San Clemente benefits from its second full year under Ortiz, and the Tritons won't be hurting at quarterback with Sam Darnold. All the things that made last season a learning experience, such as the injuries that forced younger players into the lineup, should help this season. 

TESORO TITANS

Home site: Tesoro High

Coach: Matt Poston (first year)

All games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Last season: 7-4 overall, 1-3 in league (tied for third)

8/30 vs. La Mirada

9/6 vs. Moreno Valley Rancho Verde

9/13 vs. Chino Hills

9/20 at Ontario Colony

9/27 at Temecula Chaparral

10/11 vs. Trabuco Hills*

10/18 vs. El Toro*

10/25 at Mission Viejo*

11/1 at San Clemente*

1/8 vs. Chula Vista

NOTABLE: Matt Poston was on deposed coach Brian Barnes' coaching staff when it reached the Southern Section championship game against Long Beach Poly in 2008. Poston was at Capistrano Valley last year, where the team won its first title in decades and improved by six victories over the previous year. With two starters on offense and two on defense, the Titans have some rebuilding to do. 

TRABUCO HILLS MUSTANGS

Home site: Trabuco Hills High

Coach: Scott Orloff (fourth year, 15-15)

All games at 7 p.m. unless noted

Last season: 5-5 overall, 1-3 in league (tied for third)

8/30 at Dana Hills

9/6 vs. Newport Harbor

9/13 vs. Fountain Valley at Huntington Beach

9/20 at Huntington Beach

9/26 vs. Santa Margarita Catholic

10/4 vs. JSerra

10/11 at Tesoro*

10/25 vs. El Toro at Trabuco Hills*

11/1 vs. Mission Viejo*

11/8 vs. San Clemente*

Notes: Is Coach Scott Orloff taking a page from the Dave White Playbook? For years, Edison's White has played Servite and Mater Dei back-to-back leading into league, and White swears it has made his program better. Trabuco is playing two other Trinity League teams, Santa Margarita and JSerra, heading into league. If the program can hang with those Trinity League programs every year, it should be able to compete for the top spots in the South Coast League every year. The Mustangs have some outstanding players returning, including WR Jacob Breeland and RBs Chris Reck and Jordan Hettinger. Trabuco is angling for its first playoff appearance since 2009 when it lost to La Habra in the Southwest Division championship.


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