REGION — North County prep football returns this week, and with it comes everything that makes Friday nights matter: championship expectations, old rivalries, breakout stars and teams determined to prove last season meant nothing once the lights come on.
Santa Fe Christian and Cathedral Catholic enter the season fresh off CIF San Diego Section Division championships, with the Dons making the Division 1-AA state title game, while Carlsbad looks to build on an Open Division second-place finish.
Across North County, proven veterans, promising newcomers and teams with something to prove are ready to take the field. Here’s a look at the players, coaches and storylines to watch this season:
Santa Fe Christian
(Pacific League)
Last Season: 13-1; CIF Division II San Diego Section champion.
Head Coach: Jon Wallace
Notable Players: Dax Labrum, Sr., QB; Chase Wooley, Sr., WR; Cruz Campbell, Sr., WR/DB.
Quotable: “The expectations are high coming off last year’s Division II championship, and the whole team understands how hard it is to win a championship, let alone win two. With that being said, we’re holding ourselves to the highest standard in hopes of winning a state title. Personally, my biggest areas of growth have been leadership, going from a junior to a senior, as well as working in the offseason to find ways to get more involved in the run game. We have a ton of ballers and are super deep at all our skill positions. The biggest difference this year is how senior-heavy we are. Last year, the production on offense was pretty split between juniors and seniors, but as we return a ton of guys this year, we also return tons of game experience.” — Dax Labrum, QB
Coaches Corner:
“Chase Woolley’s the best receiver in the county, and I know people would argue with that, but he played limited [time] last year. If you go watch the tape, he doesn’t lose a rep. I think he’s unbelievable.” — Jon Wallace, head coach.
La Costa Canyon
(Avocado West)
Last Season: 9-2
Head Coach: Sean Sovacool
Notable Players: Luke Labrom, Fr., QB; Jackson Miller, Jr., QB; Diego Botron, Sr., TE; Blake Larson, Jr., WR; Nate Taylor, Fr., WR/DB/RB; Jacob Hopper, Jr., TE/LB; Grady Barton, Jr., OL.
Coaches Corner: “We’ve had an awesome offseason and will have plenty of firepower in fresh faces. Our offensive line is going to be one of the biggest, most athletic groups we have ever had.” — Sean Sovacool, head coach.
Xs and Os
Luke Labrom and Jackson Miller have battled this summer to replace Quinn Roth as La Costa Canyon’s starting quarterback. “They may both play as they are both deserving,” LCC coach Sean Sovacool told The Coast News.
Whoever gets the call will be surrounded by a talented group of skill players, including Diego Botron, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound tight end and San Diego State commit whom Sovacool calls a “force at the line of scrimmage”; Blake Larson, “a track-fast wide receiver”; and Nate Taylor, a two-way playmaker who can “change a game whenever he touches the ball.”
The biggest challenge, according to Roth, may be mastering the playbook. Roth, who threw 30 touchdowns as a senior in 2025 during a 9-2 season that earned him first-team All-CIF honors, called La Costa Canyon’s playbook “probably one of the hardest high school playbooks in the country.”
The calls themselves were long and layered, Roth said, sometimes running two sentences without much reliance on a wristband. Players had to process a deep and constantly expanding menu of concepts, with motion and other tags added to plays at the line. The system featured drop-back passing, play-action and a heavy screen game, among other schemes, giving the offense unusual depth. “We never capped it off,” Roth said. “It was just like, all right, what are we putting in now?”
The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Labrom (class of 2029) already has an offer from San Diego State and brings what Sovacool describes as a rocket arm. Miller, a senior, has the experience edge: He started on the freshman team, moved up to start on JV and backed up Roth last season. The competition pits Labrom’s size and arm talent against Miller’s experience in the program and familiarity with the offense.
Oceanside
(Avocado East)
Last Season: 7-5
Head Coach: Fale Poumele
Notable Players: Lincoln Mageo, Sr., OL; Lotu Seumalo, Sr., OL; SJ Poumele, Jr., WR/RB; Neke Letuli, Jr., RB/OLB; Anthony Barquinero, Jr., QB.
Quotable: “Our identity is just being physical and playing for each other. We’ve got a lot of guys who are hungry and ready to prove something. We want to play fast, play hard and bring that Oceanside toughness every game. No matter who we’re playing, we want teams to know they’re in for a fight for all four quarters.” — Lincoln Mageo, Sr., OL
El Camino
(Avocado East)
Last Season: 1-10
Head Coach: Stefan McClure
Notable Players: Omega Cruise, Sr., WR; Ryan Hamilton, Jr., SB/RB; Ian Wall, Jr., RB/MLB; Kai Storer, Jr., QB.
Quotable: “We’ve got some good returning offensive players like Ryan Hamilton, who’s quick, shifty and a great catcher; Michael Pruitt, who’s fast, has good hands and gives us an outside threat; and Mael Willingham, a great route runner with good hands who can play inside or outside. We also have incoming transfers Ian Wall, a hard runner and strong addition to our running game at RB and LB, and new QB transfer Kai Storer, who has a strong arm, is explosive and an extremely athletic dual threat. If we stay healthy, we should be pretty explosive because we’ll have a very fast offense.” — Omega Cruise, Sr., WR
Rivalry: One city, two schools
For generations, El Camino and Oceanside football players have grown up together, played together and eventually lined up opposite each other.
Charles Dimry, an Oceanside graduate who played 12 seasons in the NFL, remembers the rivalry as a battle for city supremacy.
“We wanted to be the big dog in the city, but we grew up with everybody, so we all knew each other,” Dimry said. “We respected them, but the games got intense.”
J.C. Pearson, an El Camino graduate and eight-year NFL veteran, remembers the same dynamic.
“We knew the same people and went to the same parties — played pickup basketball against each other,” Pearson said. “Any time you know people on the other team, it becomes a little more intense.”
Legendary coach Herb Meyer further connected the programs, leading Oceanside before becoming El Camino’s first head coach. Meyer spent 28 seasons with the Wildcats, winning 226 games and eight CIF championships.
Ken Stills, an El Camino standout (1981) who later played for the Packers and Vikings, remembered Meyer’s punishing practices.
“It was the dog days of summer, but we loved it — we didn’t know any better,” Stills said.
Two decades later, former Patriots defensive back Antwain Spann (2001) remembered the same intensity: “We hated two-a-days. Even the guys that loved the sport hated them. They put us through hell.”
Last season, Oceanside shut out El Camino 22-0, ending the Wildcats’ three-game winning streak and giving the Pirates their first victory in the series since 2018.
“I’ve been playing with most of those guys since we were kids,” El Camino’s Anthony Sega said after last year’s game. “We’ve come a long way together, even though we’re on opposite sides now. It makes this rivalry game even more personal.”
Oceanside’s Lincoln Mageo, a senior and University of Michigan commit, felt the same weight: “My uncles and cousins have played in this rivalry game, so I’m excited to leave my mark.”
The rivalry renews Oct. 30, when El Camino travels to Oceanside for a 7:15 p.m. kickoff.
Carlsbad
(Avocado West)
Last Season: 10-2; CIF San Diego Section Open Division runner-up.
Head Coach: Thadd MacNeal
Notable Players: Travis Jeffrey, Sr., CB/WR; Trent Kellas, Sr., TE/DE; Darian Webb, Sr., RB; Antonio D’Alessandro, Jr., QB.
Quotable: “On defense, look for Mario Anguiano and Dylan Sims to be big playmakers in the front seven. They play physically sound. I think this year’s team plays with a lot of passion and intensity, which will be exciting to see.” — Trent Kellas, Sr., TE/DE
San Marcos
(Avocado West)
Last Season: 7-5
Head Coach: Tom Carroll
Notable Players: Anthony Fortenberry, Jr., WR/CB; Jordan Roa, Sr., QB; Kael Elizondo, Jr., WR/OLB; Ezekiel McIntyre, Sr., ATH; Xzavier McIntyre, So., ATH; Mason Fisher, Sr., DE/TE.
Quotable: “The thing that makes this year’s team different from last year’s team is the intensity. Some people may count us out, but I believe we could be one of the best, if not the best, team in San Diego. There’s no doubt about that.” — Ezekiel McIntyre, Sr., ATH
Rancho Buena Vista
(Valley League)
Last Season: 6-5
Head Coach: Terrence McKinnie
Notable Players: Van Piercy, Jr., QB; Kaipo Gutierrez, Sr., RB/MLB; Brody Berghaus, Sr., TE/DT; Sean Richard, Sr., WR/CB; Madsen Smith, Sr., TE/DE; Kade Castillo, Jr., DB/WR; Jacob Weston, Sr., G/C.
Quotable: “My biggest growth areas coming into this season are my physical attributes, like speed and strength, but I’ve also improved my ability to read defenses.” — Van Piercy, Jr., QB
Coaches Corner: “We have about 30 seniors who have been in the program. They know what I expect, they know the standards and things like that. The team has grown since last year, and we got rid of the guys who were there for all the wrong reasons. We have the football players out there now, guys who are playing for each other. We’ve also changed up a couple things and brought in some new coaches, so it should be a good year for my boys.” — Terrence McKinnie, head coach
Vista
(Valley League)
Last Season: 0-10
Head Coach: Ryan McHale
Notable Players: Irvin Garcia, Sr., WR/DB; Isaac Estrada, Jr., LB/RB; David Vasquez, Jr., QB; Jairo Rivera, Jr., RB/LB.
Quotable: “I have a good feeling about this upcoming team. Coming off an 0-10 season is tough, but we have a strong, junior-heavy squad with our second-year head coach, Ryan McHale. Our small numbers have been a problem for a couple of years now, but most, if not all, of this team has been playing together since their freshman year. There’s a special bond between everyone and the coaches.” — Isaac Estrada, Jr., LB/RB
Coaches Corner: “We’re a lot farther along this year. Last year, I got the job right before spring ball, so I was trying to get to know the kids, implement the systems and get everything going. We’re going to be a very young varsity team after graduating 17 seniors, but these guys have had a full offseason to train, learn the playbook and understand the system. The continuity is a big thing — the kids are comfortable with me and the staff. I was the third head coach in about three years, so having that continuity and knowing that I’m going to be here for the long term gives them trust in the system. They’re not thinking, ‘It’s another year, another guy, another system we have to learn.’” — Ryan McHale, head coach
Cathedral Catholic
(Western League)
Last Season: 11-3; CIF San Diego Section Open Division champion; CIF Division 1-AA state championship runner-up.
Head Coach: Sean Doyle
Notable Players: Honor Fa’alave-Johnson, Sr., ATH; Isaac Cook, Sr., WR/CB; Willie Flores, Sr., RB; Zedahn Smith, Jr., ATH.
Quotable: “I’m going to work hard my senior year, but everyone expects me to be at a higher standard after the commitment. I want to start strong and show what I’m going to do in college. I also want to take that leadership role, be a better player and teammate. Hopefully, we go all the way and win a championship.” — Honor Fa’alave-Johnson, Sr., ATH
Dons’ dramatic state final run
Last year, Cathedral Catholic’s season ended one game short of a state championship, but not before the Dons authored a dramatic comeback in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division championship game.
Cathedral trailed Carlsbad 16-0 early in the fourth quarter after being shut out for three quarters. Then the Dons flipped the game. Running back Honor Fa’alave-Johnson scored twice from short yardage, including the go-ahead touchdown with 21 seconds remaining, finishing with 106 rushing yards.
In between, quarterback Brady Palmer found junior receiver Isaac Cook for a 74-yard touchdown on fourth down, cutting the deficit to 16-13. On the decisive drive, Cathedral converted another fourth down before Josh Faraimo hauled in a pass at the Carlsbad 2-yard line, setting up Fa’alave-Johnson’s winning plunge.
“The fourth quarter was just about trusting each other and staying locked in,” senior center Xavier Faavi told The Coast News after the game.
The 20-16 victory gave head coach Sean Doyle his record fourth Open Division championship and 12th section title.
A week later, they traveled to Saddleback College for the Division 1-AA state championship against Folsom, where a dense fog enveloped the field. Folsom raced to a 21-0 first-quarter lead and ultimately won 42-28. Fa’alave-Johnson still delivered a spectacular performance, rushing for 267 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.
“It wasn’t so much a sad feeling after the game; it was more surreal knowing I won’t ever put on a Dons uniform or suit up with the same group of brothers again,” senior offensive lineman Anthony Bibaeff said.
Mission Hills
(Avocado West)
Last Season: 9-2
Head Coach: Thomas Altieri
Notable Players: Grant Kuykendall, Sr., DE/TE; Brayden Roberson, Jr., WR/DB; Ryan MacKenzie, Jr., WR/DB; Jackson Fader, Sr., OL/DL; Furian Inferrera, Sr., QB.
Quotable: “I’m feeling great coming into this season and ready to shine on the field with my boys. I would single out my skill guys as a whole. They’ve been proving themselves every day and showing why we are one of the best teams in the state.” — Brayden Roberson, Jr., WR/DB
A new era at Mission Hills
For more than two decades, Chris Hauser was the only head coach Mission Hills football had ever known. That changed abruptly last season.
Hauser, who led the Grizzlies from the program’s inaugural season in 2004, was placed on paid administrative leave in September amid a district investigation into an incident involving two players. The district later determined that, in addition to student misconduct, certain program staff had failed to follow established supervision and reporting protocols.
Hauser resigned as coach in October, citing family and health priorities ahead of his planned retirement from the district.
Former Mission Hills quarterback DJ Zapata took over as interim head coach and guided the Grizzlies to a 9-2 finish and a berth in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division semifinals, where they lost 42-35 to eventual champion Cathedral Catholic. Mission Hills did it behind a high-powered passing attack led by quarterback Troy Huhn and wide receivers Brayden Roberson and Josh Gonzales, who transferred from Escondido for his senior season.
Gonzales, now a freshman at Palomar College, remembers the season as both successful and unsettling.
“I was obviously a little bummed,” he said. “It didn’t go the way I planned it to go. I mean, our head coach got fired. It was a crazy year at Mission Hills.”
But he also left with an appreciation for the program’s demands. “The practices were so much harder than the games, which I honestly appreciate looking back.”
Now the program has turned to one of its own.
Thomas Altieri, who joined Mission Hills in 2010 as a substitute teacher and offensive line coach and most recently served as defensive coordinator, was named the program’s next head coach in February. The 2005 Vista High graduate becomes only the second permanent head coach in Mission Hills history.
Altieri was among the assistants placed on administrative leave during the district investigation but was cleared to return to his coaching role in October. The district said his deep knowledge of the program, more than 16 years of coaching experience and long-standing dedication to Mission Hills student-athletes distinguished him in a competitive search.
Torrey Pines
(Avocado West)
Last Season: 4-7
Head Coach: Scott Ashby
Notable Players: Blake Miller, Sr., QB; Corde Keeler, Sr., G/DE; Barrett Eilerts, Jr., T/C; Logan Bonneau, Sr., WR/DB; Kingston Bankston, Sr., CB; Henry Kendall, Sr., MLB/TE; Jacob Kreiss, Sr., RB; Bryson Waterhouse, Sr., G/T; Jackson Leddo, Sr., C/DT.
Quotable: “A lot of people are counting us out because of last year, but I believe we’re one of the best teams in the county. I think our offensive line is going to be one of the biggest strengths of our team this year. We’re all returning starters, our chemistry is through the roof, and we’re one of the tightest position groups on the team. We all have the same desire to win, and we push each other every day. On the left side, Corde Keeler and I have built a lot of chemistry playing next to each other, and we have high expectations for ourselves this year. Corde is really the leader of our offensive line. We all respect him and learn a lot from him. Jackson Leddo, Kash Kenny and Bryson Waterhouse all bring a lot of experience and grit, too. We take a lot of pride in setting the tone for the team, and I think our offensive line is going to be a huge part of our offensive success this year.” — Barrett Eilerts, Jr., T/C
Escondido
(Palomar League)
Last Season: 2-9
Head Coach: Ian Kelly
Notable Players: JJ Bejar, Sr., RB/CB; Cainen Whitaker, Sr., OT/DE; Ernie Nuno, Jr., WR.
“Coach Kelly is going to pour his heart and soul into those young men and into the Escondido program,” said Robert Mendez, Escondido’s assistant head coach and linebackers coach. “He brings an exceptional blend of high-level playing and coaching experience, matched only by his intensity in the weight room and a genuine commitment to developing kids the right way.”
Opening Week Schedule
| Date | Time | Game |
| Aug. 13 | 7:00 p.m. | Oceanside at Torrey Pines |
| Aug. 21 | 4:00 p.m. | Santa Fe Christian vs. Helix |
| Aug. 21 | 6:30 p.m. | Vista at Sweetwater |
| Aug. 21 | 7:00 p.m. | Carlsbad vs. Arbor View |
| Aug. 21 | 7:00 p.m. | San Marcos at Aliso Niguel |
| Aug. 21 | 7:00 p.m. | La Costa Canyon at Central |
| Aug. 21 | 7:00 p.m. | Rancho Buena Vista at Otay Ranch |
| Aug. 21 | 7:15 p.m. | Escondido vs. Fallbrook |
| Aug. 21 | 7:15 p.m. | El Camino at Mission Hills |
| Aug. 28 | 7:00 p.m. | Cathedral Catholic vs. Orange Lutheran |
