Preview: Talent abounds in Coastal Conference ahead of 2025 season

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 Aug. 21.

Coastal Conference

Coastal League

Army-Navy Academy

Last season: 8-3

Coach: Nehemiah Brunson, 11th season

Key players: Landon Schrom (WR-DB), Lincoln Brunson (WR), Jonah Tua (RB-DE), Patrick Knight (LB), Jeremiah Torres (RB-WR), Zach Mitchell (LB), Royce Fielder (LB), Judah Bogard (QB), Vincent Leatherman (LB), Abraham Drame (Ath).

Scouting report: The Warriors aren’t deep, but they are talented. Big things are expected from Bogard, a 6-foot-4 junior QB who transferred in from Texas. His main target is Schrom, who caught 50 passes for 959 yards and 12 TDs a year ago. Tua is a monster on defense with 15 1/2 sacks. Torres and Paliza figure to contribute on offense. Knight had 52 tackles, Fielder had 37 tackles and Mitchell had 22 tackles over 7 games.

Bishop’s

Last season: 7-4

Coach: Shane Walton, sixth season

Key players: Cash Herrera (QB), Dane Larson (WR-D), Son Son Santiaguel (LB), Nick Pfister (WR), Jacob Popplewell (RB), Lukas Minasian (OL-LB), Jojo Bryant (RB-LB), Jonah Garcia  (TE-LB), Reid Dielman (TE-LB), Jackson Binn (QB), Khai Agabayani (Ath), Ryan O’Donovan (OL-DL).

Scouting report: The 6-foot-3 Herrera is one of the best QBs in the county. A three-star player who has committed to Indiana, he threw for 2,033 yards and 24 TDs a year ago. Pfister, who had 15 catches for 200 yards, and Jonah Garcia, who had 12 receptions for 152 yards, figure to get plenty of chances. Larson also figures to get targeted. Popplewell is the top returning running back. The hard-hitting Santiaguel should be the anchor on defense. Walton is looking for breakout seasons from Dielman, Binn and Agbayan.

Classical Academy

Last season: 6-5

Coach: Josiah Cruz, fifth season

Key players: Esteban Morales (OL-DL), Tommy Wentzel (Ath), TJ Winter (Ath), Moses Trevisan (WR), Jonah Bombacie (OL-DL), Cooper Greene (DE), Nick Mizel (WR), Daine Gonzalez (RB), Hunter Schmidt (RB-DB), Jake Tenter (OL-DL), Mark Mireles (OL-DL), Bryce Duggan (WR-DB), Brody McFarlane (WR-DB).

Scouting report: The defending league champs are big up front, with the 290-pound Morales joining Bombacie (220) and Tenter (225). The multi-talented Wentzel had 68 tackles a year ago. Getting the ball to the receivers is a problem Cruz must solve. Mizel caught 26 passes a year ago. Gonzalez rushed for 94 yards, while Schmidt rushed 23 times for 101 yards. The back end of the defense is a strength.

La Jolla Country Day

Last season: 5-6

Coach: Tyler Hales, 12th season

Key players: Quentin Cesaire (WR-DB), Hesh Hertz (WR), Marvin Jones (WR), Rocco Taccone (WR), Jett Astephen (QB), Cory Thompson (OL), Leo Grassi (OL), Jame Picinch (DB), Marvin Jones (DB), Kaza Nishiba (DB), Max Brooker (LB), Cory Thompson (DL), DJ Nwaguo (DB).

Scouting report: Astephen threw for 1,194 yards and 13 touchdowns in just seven games a year ago. He has a major weapon in Cesaire, who caught 65 passes for 775 yards and 12 TDs. Hertz caught 27 balls for 288 yards. Thompson and Grassi are a load on an O-line that was hit hard by graduation. The secondary is the strength of the defense: Nwaguo had 41 tackles, Picinich 37, Brooker and Jones 36 and Nishiba 18 a year ago.

Santa Fe Christian

Last season: 9-2

Coach: Jon Wallace, 13th season

Key players: Dax Labrum (QB), Sam Carney (OL), Walker Simmons (OL-LS), Bradan Scott (RB-PK), Josh Hussman (RB), Daniel DePfyffer (OL-DL), Jarius Boldon (TE), Chase Woolley (RB-LB), Robin Anzodru (OL-DL), Cole Hajjar (RB-DB), Brody Caffery (LB), Everett Kerkoff (LB)

Scouting report: The offense is in good hands with Labrum, who threw for 1,638 yards and 21 TDs a year ago. A Boise State commit, Scott is a threat running, receiving and kicking. Wooley had 25 catches for 365 yards and Hussman had 28 receptions a year ago. Carney and DePfyffer anchor the O-line. Hajjar, Scott, Carney, Anzodru, Caffery and Kerkoff anchor the defense. Scott had 47 tackles, Kerkoff had 26 in 6 games.

Pacific League

Coastal Academy

Last season: 10-3

Coach: Stephen Patton, fifth season

Key players: Ethan Bissell (RB-LB), Adam Cornejo (FB-LB), Cody Terpstra (RB-DB), Zac Garland (QB), Jonathan Eng (RB), Asher Benner (WR-DB), Jordan Mignosi (LB), Anders Haas (OL-DL), Collin Wahlrab (OL-DL), Isaiah Clark (OL-DL), Jesse Taylor (OL-DL), Michael Klein (OL-DL).

Scouting report: The Stingrays won the Pacific League title and have plenty of offensive weapons back, including Garland, who threw for 1,564 yards and 14 TDs a year ago. Benner had 913 yards rushing and receiving, Terpstra rushed for 380 yards and Eng for 256. Clark, Wahlrab, Haas and Klein give the team experience up front. Benner had 47 tackles, Bissell 44 and Mignosi 42 a year ago.

Escondido Charter

Last season: 1-9

Coach: Jon Goodman, fifth season

Key players: Blake Jurges (WR-DB), Cash Gaano (RB-LB), Axel Campbell (WR-DB), Jacob Scates (DB), Jonathan Roner (LB), Curtis Willams (LB), Liam Ricciardi (WR), Gabriel Marsh (OL), Zachary Taylor (RB), Bryan Owens (WR), Arnold Graff (DL).

Scouting report: Gaano, who had 424 yards total offense, is the key to the offense. Marsh is the only starting O-lineman returning. The defensive secondary returns Taylor, Owens and Jurges. Taylor had 23 tackles, Owens 16 and Jurges 25.

Orange Glen

Last season: 0-10

Coach: Santiago Rocha, second season

Key players: Zadan Wilde (QB-Ath), Israel De la Torre (OL-LB), Abraham Cervantes (RB-DB), Jorge Rojas (WR-DB), Aldair Samano (QB-LB), Anthony Ramirez (OL-DL), Andres Rives (OL-DL), Axel Aguilar (TE-LB), Noah Reynoso (LB), Louis Sanson (LB-DL), Isaiah Cardenas (WR-DB), Damian Rodriguez (WR-DB)

Scouting report: The Patriots are 1-30 over the last three seasons, but Rocha is a bright, young coach who plans to turn things around. The team’s success will center around Wilde, a talented sophomore. Rivas, Aguilar and Sanson give the Patriots some size. Depth will be an issue but Rocha said the work ethic and team unity are strong.

Sunset League

Foothills Christian

Last season: 6-4 (as 8-man team)

Coach: Dustin Turley, first season

Key players: Marshal Bailey (OL), Asher Cross (OL), Josh Hawkins (QB-DB), JJ Hernandez (OL), Dennis Hoffman (OL), Jake Manalo (WR), Wyatt Matlock (LB), Drew Mikulsky (LB), Jonah Nottoli (QB), Tuchon Phoenix (WR), David Stewart (RB-DB), Jack Sudi (RB-DB), Dennis Hoffman (OL), Gabe Larm (DL)

Scouting report: A highly successful 8-man program, the Knights make the jump to 11-man and Division 5-AA. The versatile Hawkins and Nottoli give the team options at QB. Sudi and Stewart are experienced running backs. Sudi, who had 36 tackles a year ago, leads the defense alongside Matlock, Larm and Srtewart.

Maranatha Christian

Last season: 8-4

Coach: Nick Novak, fifth season

Key players: Jake Locker (QB), Ryan Niguidula (WR-DB), Hudson Heinrichs (WR-DB), Aaron Tasin (WR-LB), Sawyer Bryant (WR), Nathan Niguidula (OL-DL), Chase Carmichael (OL-DL), Daniel Schaffer (OL-DL), Dane Johnson (DB), Cole Niguidula (WR-DB)

Scouting report: With 16 starters back, hopes are high. Locker threw for 1,911 yards and 27 TDs a year ago. Heinrichs had 61 catches for 968 yards and 11 TDs. Tasin, the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, has 327 career tackles and 45 career tackles-for-loss. Nathan Niguidula has 132 career tackles and 18 sacks. Ryan Niguidula is the top running back. Cole Niguidula, the third brother and a basketball player, is giving football a try.

Mountain Empire

Last season: 1-9

Coach: Cameron Keller, first season

Key players: Jason Landman (TE-LB), Isaac Gonzalez (Ath), Michael Noble (WR-DB), Elisha Lashone Robinson (Ath), Ezekiel Lopez (OL), Christopher James (WR-DB), Max Anderson (TE-DE), Ben Chavez (DB), Chance Ross (QB)

Scouting report: Keller was a late hire. The coach likes the talent at the skill positions and size on defense. Ross, a transfer from Steele Canyon, is the QB. James had 91 carries for 441 yards a year ago, while Gonzalez had 45 carries for 279 yards. Noble had 49 tackles a year ago, while Landman had 40 tackles in five games.

O’Farrell Charter

Last season: 2-9

Coach: Bruce Newland, second season

Key players: Dakobi Coleman (QB), Frank Johnson (OL-DL), Luis Carrillo (OL-DL), Angelo Ortegon (RB), Evan Kelly (WR), Ysaac Beltran (LB)

Scouting report: The 2024 season was a landmark one for O’Farrell. The Falcons won their first game against a San Diego team and made their first playoff appearance. Coleman, who threw for 1,165 yards and ran for 507 a year ago, returns. Ortegon and Kelly are his main weapons. Johnson, who checks in at 6-foot-1 and 260 pounds, had 56 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss and eight sacks a year ago.

Rock Academy

Last season: 2-8

Coach: Ben Jameson, fourth season

Key players: Zayden Campbell (RB-DB), Carson Manjarrez (WR-DB), Logan Saathoff (TE-LB), Jace Daldo (WR-DB), Alec Endicott (QB), Quentin Uhland (WR-DB), Tyri Lewis (OL-DL), Keden Jo (OL), Luke Saathoff (OL-DL), Jaden Metz (OL-DL), Mishaki Mwenebato (DB), Iman Oredi (RB), Evariste Oredi (LB), Ernesto Martinez (PK)

Scouting report: Uhland, who had 28 receptions for 451 yards and seven TDs a year ago, will be the focus of a run-first team. Endicott threw for 505 yards in eight games. Campbell and Iman Oredi will be the feature backs. Saathoff, a first-team O-lineman last year, moves to tight end. Lewis, who missed most of last season with an injury, is the key to the O-line. Campbell had 39 tackles and Manjarrez 28 a year ago.

Tri-City Christian

Last season: 6-5

Coach: Salo Faraimo, first season

Key players: Jack Ashcraft (OL-DL), Jorge Avelar (OL-DL), Noah Haber (WR-DB), Grayson Freeman (RB-LB), Shane Blanchard (WR-LB), Cade Bush (WR-DB)

Scouting report: There is little left from a senior-laden team that was 6-5 last season. Ashcraft, who checks in at 6-foot-1 and 250 pounds, gives the team some size up front; so does the 210-pound Avelar. Haber played only three games last season, but is talented.

Victory Christian Academy

Last season: 3-7

Coach: Earl Benson, ninth season

Key players: Austin Dill (QB), Ben Cordova (TE-DL), Gabriel Aguirre (RB-DB), Andres Sanchez (RB-DB), Max Gardner (WR-DB), Micah Gerdes (OL-DL), Alejandro Rodriguez (OL-DL), Ricardo Gomez (OL-DL)

Scouting report: Dill returns after throwing for 1,399 yards and 16 TDs a year ago. Cordova had 27 catches for 553 yards, while Gardner had 17 catches for 275 yards. The offense will revolve around Aguirre, who had 771 yards total offense a year ago. Rodriguez had 108 tackles, Gerdes 55 and Sanchez 14.

JOHN MAFFEI