Preview: Mater Dei Catholic, Montgomery look to build on successful seasons in 2025

Editor’s note: The Union-Tribune is previewing the CIF San Diego Section’s football teams, conference by conference, as we build up to the start of the 2025 season. High school football games begin Thursday.

Metro Conference

Mesa League

Chula Vista

Last season: 5-7

Coach: Jimmy Clark, first year

Key players: Michael Marquez (WR-DB), Daniel Marquez (TE-DB), Darrion Frisson-Gaither (RB-LB), Oberon Tamashiro (RB-LB), Julio Andrade (OL-DL), Matthew Gilespie (OL-DL), Jorge Uribe (OL-DL), Ben Rivera (FB-DL), Justin Yniesta (TE-DL), Carlos Echieverria (WR-DB), Jaylen Clark (WR-DB), Gabriel Ruiz (WR-DB).

Scouting report: Clark’s emphasis will be on defense, where nine of the team’s 12 starters return. Two-year starters Michael and Daniel Marquez, Echeverria, Clark and Ruiz are back in the defensive backfield with newcomer Elijah Johnson pushing them. Frisson-Gaither and Tamashiro are veteran linebackers, with Isaiah Heard and Aiden Herrera ready to assume full-time duty. All-leaguers Rivera and Andrade anchor an O-line that also includes Gilespie and the 300-pound Uribe. Ocatavio Miranda has fit right in. Junior De La Rosa, a pitcher on the baseball team, has moved right in at QB and possesses a strong arm. Heard and Frisson-Gaither were impressive in limited play at running back.

Eastlake

Last season: 5-7

Coach: Jose Mendoza, sixth year

Key players: Tyler Balco (QB), Josiah Hernandez (OL), Aiden Orozco (OL), Noah Addleman (OL), Aidan Sanchez (TE), Ryan Branco (DB), David Branco (LB), Hanza Hatahet (Ath), Chris Wilson (DB), Jovani Ceja (DE), Diego De La Vega (DL).

Scouting report: Balco is back after completing 82 of 163 passes for 1,054 yards. Four running backs return, including Balco. The athletic Hatahet and sophomore Ryan Yamasaki will get plenty of opportunities. The O-line is solid, with starters Hernandez, Orozco and Addleman joined by newcomer Diego Cabrera. Versatile all-leaguers like Ceja and linebacker David Branco figure to be joined by De La Vega and newcomer Nicolas Alba.

Mater Dei Catholic

Last season: 9-4

Coach: Rashard Cook, second year

Key players: Noah Cook (WR-DB), Larell Parker (WR-CB), Mekhi Oluwa (WR-DB), Diego Mendoza (LB), Jordan Dumaran (RB-LB), Nik Edwards (OL-DL), Paula Latu (OL), Jeffrey Adams (OL-DL), Maddox Faaive (OL-DL), Jackson Mumford (QB), Bryce Collins-Howard (RB), Jasir Fontenot (Ath).

Scouting report: Dumaran returns after gaining 572 yards rushing. Newcomer Collins-Howard is looking to make a big impact. Speedy all-league receiver Larell Parker had 44 receptions for 671 yards a year ago, while track standout Oluwa added 22 catches. Whoever wins the QB job will have a big, veteran O-line led by all-leaguer Edwards and sophomores Latu and Adams. Newcomer Faaive checks in at 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds. All but Latu figure to go both ways. An all-league linebacker, Cook joins Mendoza and Dumaran on defense. One or two of those may play defensive back, along with sophomore track sensation Jasir Fontenot, a transfer from San Diego High.

Otay Ranch

Last season: 5-6

Coach: Howard Bannister, first year

Key players: David Smith (TE-LB), Ethan Louischaroen (CB), AJ Lopez (QB), Kurstin Mitchell (TE-DL), Jaiden Castillo (RB), Jared Gijon (OL), Xander Mendez (WR), Josh Viser (TE-DE), Trey James (DB), Mike White (DB), Isaiah Sary (OL-DL), Darius Hawkins (RB), Aiden Agustin (OL), Sean Zabayle (WR).

Scouting report: After 10 years of success at Chula Vista, Bannister has moved to the other side of the 805. The Mustangs return just six starters; one of them is Lopez, who completed almost 70% of his passes a year ago. Lopez also rushed for 261 yards before suffering a season-ending injury, but is fully recovered. Mendez and Castillo will be joined at receiver by Smith who, at 6-foot and 200 pounds, is a big target. Mitchell anchors the D-line alongside Visser. Smith starts at linebacker, and newcomers like James and White are expected to contribute quickly in the defensive backfield.

Sweetwater

Last season: 5-6

Coach: Brandon Burris, second year

Key players: Zane Willis (RB-LB), Sean Carlos (WR-DB), Junior Mariscal (TE-LB), Juan Alvarez (WR-DB), Abdul Osman (WR-DB), Noah Calingay (WR-DB), Carlos Martinez (OL-DL), Joey Rauda (OL-DL), Josh Roman (CB), Jonathan Figueroa (QB).

Scouting report: Sweetwater returns 16 starters but must find a new QB. Figueroa passed just once last season, but at 6-foot-3, has good size. Carlos, Alvarez, Osman and Caligay return at receiver, and newcomers Sahmir Hicks and Victor Trujillo are making a push to play. Juniors Martinez and Rauda anchor the lines, but newcomers like Diego Aquina will need to produce. Willis and all-leaguer Mariscal are veteran linebackers.

Metro South Bay League

Bonita Vista

Last season: 7-6

Coach: Jay Hernandez, second year

Key players: Kenneth Watson (FB-LB), Aiden Cortes (RB-LB), Diego Mariscal (OL-DL), AJ Cortes (FB-LB), Nate Lindquest (RB), Alex Yepis (DB), Cole Margetts (DB), Greyson Smith (QB), Coko Napoleon-Sanchez (DB), Isaiah Jimenez (LB), Lucas Cortez-Raulli (RB-DB).

Scouting report: Smith threw for 606 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago while sharing the job. He returns, but could get pushed by junior Marshall Romo. All-leaguer Lindquest figures to have the ball in his hands a lot after rushing for 153 yards and catching 21 passes for 273 yards a year ago. Aiden and AJ Cortes were also all-league. Cortez-Raulli will start. The Barons, who lost 32 seniors, are clearly thin on the lines. Linebacker appears to be a strength, with Watson, Aiden and AJ Cortez and newcomer Jimenez ready to suit up.

Hilltop

Last season: 4-6

Coach: Bryan Wagner, sixth year

Key players: Abraham Matuz (WR-LB), Victor Ruiz (WR-DB), Zachary Iglesias (OL-DL), Bryson Grant (WR-DB), Roberto Izquierdo (OL-DL), Damian Moreno (LB), Julian Moran (WR-DB), Alejandro Carranza (QB), Erik Nealson (OL), Leo Mendoza (RB-LB), Lajuan Johnson (RB-DB), Chris Leal (WR-DB)

Scouting report: Carranza is back, giving Hilltop a nice place to start. Moran, nicknamed “JuJu,” caught 19 balls for 444 yards a year ago. Veteran running backs Ruiz and Grant are ready to step up. Johnson and Mendoza averaged 5.4 and 5.3 yards per carry, but figure to get a lot more chances behind a line that returns starters Iglesias, Izquierdo, and Nealson. There are plenty of two-way players to start the season, with linebackers Matuz, Mendoza and Moreno joined by DBs Ruiz, Moran, Johnson and Leal.

Montgomery

Last season: 9-4

Coach: Freddy Dunkle, eighth year

Key players: Isaiah Mena-Malijan (QB), Mike Ware (OL-DL), Andrew Tapia (OL-DL), Samuel Esquivel (OL-DL), Samuel Frausto (OL-DL), Mateo Sepulveda (OL), Marquis Benton (WR-DB), Lofa Toga (WR-DE), Qasim Williams (RB), Vili Trollinger (RB-LB), Isaac Espinosa (RB-LB), Michael Silva (RB-LB), John Ingram (DB).

Scouting report: The Aztecs will be tough to beat up front thanks to a young but experienced line on both sides of the ball. Esquivel and Frausto were all-league players a year ago. All-league Mena-Malijan had a brilliant sophomore season, completing 111 of 196 passes for 1,819 yards and 17 TDs. Silva, Williams and Espinosa bring experience at running back, Look for All-CIF linebacker Trollinger, who averaged more than 11 tackles per game a year ago, to lend a hand on the offensive side as well. Another all-league linebacker, Espinosa, finished with 105 tackles a year ago. Toga anchors the line, while Benton, Ingram and newcomer Jaden Rodriguez are solid DBs.

Olympian

Last season: 3-7

Coach: Lew Barnes, first year

Key players: Jayden Fuentes (QB), Patricio Flatts (WR-DB), Jorgani Estrada (WR-DB), Juan Jose Neo Ruiz (WR-DB), Joshua Rivera (OL-DL), Gianni Marino (OL-DL), Andie DeAnda (Ath), Jeremiah Delgado Faucher (RB-LB), Jack Delgado Faucher (OL-LB), Walter Ignacio (RB-DB).

Scouting report: When you have your returning QB, a host of good receivers and a transfer who accounted for more than 1,000 yards on offense a year ago, a new coach smiles. Fuentes threw for 1,385 yards and 10 TDs a year ago. His receivers include all-leaguer Rivera, who at 6-foot-2, 230-pounds may move inside, plus the 6-2 Flatts, the 6-3 Jose Neo Ruiz, Estrada, Jahmir Blackmon and Jordan Sandoval. The transfer is Andie DeAnda, who grabbed 33 passes for 522 yards at Montgomery a year ago. He also threw for 372 yards and ran for 161. Veterans Jeremiah Delgado Faucher and Ignacio return at running back. The Eagles are loaded on the lines, with 6-foot-4, 275-pound senior Moreno joined by Rivera, Ian Burke, Jeremiah Delgado Faucher’s twin brother Jack, Julian Carl Devera and Lorenzo Nava. Tight end/linebacker Michael Talavera and recevier/defensive back Gabriel Bermejo are among many players who suit up on both sides of the ball. Look for kicker Eisuke Simmons to put up big numbers.

Metro Pacific League

Castle Park

Last season: 2-8

Coach: Airrien Smith, second year

Key players: Jorge Padilla (RB-LB), Yiheng Hu (RB-LB), Richie Moreno (OL-DL), Evan Lopez (QB-DB), Aiddien Smith (WR-DB), Diego Perez (RB-LB), Jesus Gonzalez (RB-LB), Daniel Torres (WR-DB).

Scouting report: The Trojans are hoping to play on their new, all-weather field before the end of the season. Lopez saw limited action a year ago and is expected to step up this season. Padilla and Hu started some last year, and with newcomers Perez and Gonzalez providing depth, there is no shortage of running backs. Aiddien Smith, the coach’s son, started as a freshman and led all receivers with 38 catches for 473 yards and four TDs. Another sophomore, Torres, is a sure-handed target. Moreno is the only starting lineman returning.

Mar Vista

Last season: 4-7

Coach: Sergio Villalva, first year

Key players: Cionte Fewall (WR), Braylon Shumate (WR), Santiago Campos (OL-DL), Tony Soto (OL-DL), Steven Santos (RB-LB), Gabriel Sanchez (WR-DB), Luke Everett (RB-LB), Fernando Ramirez (LB), Steven Ordaz (OL-DL), Julian Davis (LB), Noah Hudkins (OL-DL).

Scouting report: Just seven starters return. Sophomore Holden Bell has won the QB job, and at 6-foot-3, has plenty of room to grow. All-leaguer Fewell leads the running backs after rushing for 320 yards and catching 35 passes for 445 yards a year ago. Santos, another all-leaguer, was a workhorse with 52 carries for 166 yards. As a freshman, Shumate ran for 110 yards and caught passes for 187 yards. Look for Sergio Gonzales to get the ball as well. Up front, Campos, Ordaz, Soto and Hudkins lead the way.

San Ysidro

Last season: 3-7

Coach: Giantoni Canale, second year

Key players: Dario Garcia (QB), Aaron Garcia (WR-DB), Sean Blazen (RB-DB), Nylan Osuna (OL-DL), Gabriel Rivera (TE-LB), Caden Dye (OL), Nicolas Quintel (OL-DL), Nicolas Placencia (RB-DE), Caleb Contreras (WR-DB), Jeyren Lopez (OL-DL), Eydan Coutinho (WR-DB).

Scouting report: The strength of this team is its lines. Osuna, Dye, and Lopez support all-leaguer Quintel. Add newcomers Aiden Allen and Leonel Medrano, and the team looks stout up front.  All-league QB Dario Garcia threw for 1,258 yards and 12 TDs and was the team’s top rusher (93 carries, 649 yards, 9 TDs) a year ago. Blazen and Placencia, who adds running back to his defensive end duties, also factor in. Aaron Garcia and Couthino are veteran receivers. On the defensive side, look for Rivera and newcomer Israel Uribe to back up the line, with Aaron Garcia, Blazen, Contreras, Placencia and newcomer Wyman Tolbert ready to roll as DBs.

Southwest-San Diego

Last season: 5-5

Coach: Domonic Cruz, fifth year

Key players: Dylan Garcia (LB), Isaac Munoz (QB-LB), Leo Holquin (QB), Adrian Alfaro (OL-DL), Diego Valencia (WR-DB), Dravon Marcus (OL-DL), Leonel Rivera (WR-DB), Christian Borja (Ath), Nathan Balce (WR-DB), Barrington Bowens (OL-DL), Marco Grady (OL-DL) .

Scouting report: All-league QB Holquin had a brilliant sophomore year, completing 92 of 143 passes for 1,351 yards with 18 TDs. His backup, Munoz, also returns. Valenzuela, an all-league defensive back a year ago, will be targeted more on offense. Rivera and newcomer Balce are getting lots of looks as is Borja. Alfaro and Marcus are joined on the line by newcomers Bowens and Grady. A linebacker, Garcia was the league Defensive Player of the Year; Valenzuela was an all-leaguer at DB.

STEVE BRAND