I thought DLS was likely down this year. Of course I hoped not since my school battled, and probably should have beaten them. But, it looks like they indeed were down. Their schedule looked better on paper than it really was. Still, it was rather shocking to see just how badly outmanned they were. The suspense was largely dead very quickly, as the mismatch in talent was too obvious as to believe DLS was going to be in the game.

IMO, the days of Mater Dei and SJB being top 2-3 nationally are over for the forseeable future. Carson Palmer is going to continue getting major talent, and that will further break up the monopoly in talent the forrmet two have had. The Trinity League is the SEC of HS football. And, as we've seen with the SEC, having so many excellent teams in one conference leads to the teams beating up on each other and then no one stands all the way out as a clear #1 option for all players.

I agree with all this, and I especially agree with your Comment on DLS being down this year they were much better last year.... They had more top level depth on their lines and a much better running game....

They did get hit with some significant transfers, a really good Running Back and 4 quality Linemen including a Sophomore Al reading holding multiple D1 offered who was projected as their next great 2 way linemen who's family moved to Illinois.... Those were tough losses and really hurt their depth.... Their #2 DB also didn't play this year due to Concussion issues.... He was a projected D1 player with Great size and Speed and sadly his FB career may be over due to Concussion issues....

DLS is considered one of the best defensive units up north. Meanwhile SM scored 3 pts against Mission Viejo, 7 pts vs MD , 0 pts vs BG ,14pts vs SJB and 17 pts vs Servite

DLS's defense was probably overrated all year. A curious fact that many people may have missed is that DLS didn't see some of the best players on the opposing teams' rosters. Some coaches sat their key offensive players to keep them rested and healthy for more meaningful games. Some key players were hurt. It was unusual. The Pittsburg game was telling. They moved the ball at will against DLS. The score didn't show it because Pitt only got 17 points on 6 or 7 trips to the red zone.

They still may have been one of the best defensive units up north. 

I thought DLS was likely down this year. Of course I hoped not since my school battled, and probably should have beaten them. But, it looks like they indeed were down. Their schedule looked better on paper than it really was. Still, it was rather shocking to see just how badly outmanned they were. The suspense was largely dead very quickly, as the mismatch in talent was too obvious as to believe DLS was going to be in the game.

IMO, the days of Mater Dei and SJB being top 2-3 nationally are over for the forseeable future. Carson Palmer is going to continue getting major talent, and that will further break up the monopoly in talent the forrmet two have had. The Trinity League is the SEC of HS football. And, as we've seen with the SEC, having so many excellent teams in one conference leads to the teams beating up on each other and then no one stands all the way out as a clear #1 option for all players.

MD maybe, but Bosco isn't going anywhere. 

MD maybe, but Bosco isn't going anywhere. 

Bosco is better situated geographically.

Bosco is better situated geographically.

That and their pipeline isn't going anywhere.

JSERRA
Former coach: Victor Santa Cruz

New hire: Hardy Nickerson (from Bishop O'Dowd)

The skinny: Santa Cruz was 14-18 in his three-year stretch, including a 3-12 record in the Trinity League. Nickerson comes from Bishop O'Dowd where he led the school to a CIF State title on Dec. 12.

OAKS CHRISTIAN
Former coach: Charlie Collins

New hire: Still open

The skinny: Collins went 59-34 in his eight seasons with the Lions, including a program worst 4-6 regular-season record this past fall.

ST. FRANCIS
Former coach: Dean Herrington

New hire: Lance Mitchell (from Muir)

The skinny: Herrington led the Golden Knights to CIF finals in 2021 and 2022 in just five seasons at the helm and was 35-26 at St. Francis. Mitchell led Muir to a CIF final and two semifinal appearances in four years as the head coach at Muir. Went 36-16 in his time as the Mustangs' head coach.

BISHOP MONGTOMERY

Former coach: Ed Hodgkiss

New hire: Still open

The skinny: Bishop Montgomery was at the epicenter of high school football's biggest story in 2025, and maybe the last decade, when the 'Money Man' admitted to paying families/players upwards of $50,000 (plus expenses) to play football. The program shut down its varsity season, and 19 players were deemed ineligible due to CIF Bylaw 202 (falsifying documentation).

LONG BEACH POLY

Former coach: Justin Utupo

New hire: Still open

The skinny: Utupo was the head coach for just one year. Odd to see one of the nation's blue blood high school football programs in a free fall.

ALEMANY

Former coach: Aaron Huerta

New hire: Dennis Keyes

The skinny: Huerta was 1-9 in his debut season. Keyes, a former UCLA standout football player, takes over.

ST. PAUL

Former coach: Mike Moschetti

New hire: Still open

The skinny: Moschetti steps down after three seasons, saying, "...just didn't enough games." He was 15-19 in his three-year stint, including 2024's win over Bishop Amat at home. Moschetti was the coach at La Mirada before he took the St. Paul job, where he won seven league titles in nine seasons. He won two CIF-SS titles and a CIF State crown at La Mirada.

JSERRA
Former coach: Victor Santa Cruz

New hire: Hardy Nickerson (from Bishop O'Dowd)

The skinny: Santa Cruz was 14-18 in his three-year stretch, including a 3-12 record in the Trinity League. Nickerson comes from Bishop O'Dowd where he led the school to a CIF State title on Dec. 12.

OAKS CHRISTIAN
Former coach: Charlie Collins

New hire: Still open

The skinny: Collins went 59-34 in his eight seasons with the Lions, including a program worst 4-6 regular-season record this past fall.

ST. FRANCIS
Former coach: Dean Herrington

New hire: Lance Mitchell (from Muir)

The skinny: Herrington led the Golden Knights to CIF finals in 2021 and 2022 in just five seasons at the helm and was 35-26 at St. Francis. Mitchell led Muir to a CIF final and two semifinal appearances in four years as the head coach at Muir. Went 36-16 in his time as the Mustangs' head coach.

Not overly impressed with Nickerson as a HC. Went to part of the Rancho Cotate game and BOD did not look very good (loss to an average team). They got dropped way down for the playoffs and SBG and got their trophy. BOD was a much better team under Napoleon Kaufman. Don't expect much more than 5th/6th place finishes in the TL. Going to be tough time at JSerra.

Corona Centennial football coach Matt Logan has his next signal caller for the 2026 season.
Standout 2027 quarterback Jaden Jefferson has checked out of Cathedral High in Los Angeles and is officially enrolled at powerhouse Corona Centennial for the spring semester, according to a source close to the situation.

Word on the street is Centennial is expecting more transfers at the semester break. Jefferson's teammate Quinten Hale is expected to check into Centennial, too. Hale is one of California's best wide receivers at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds. He tallied 872 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns in 2025 on 62 catches in 11 games.

Two Mater Dei players in the 2028 class are expected to enroll during winter break, too. Defensive lineman Kye Duval and linebacker Harvey Millan. Another defensive lineman from Roy High in Utah, Madden Lima, came to the school mid fall semester, but is expected to be an immediate impact as a sophomore in 2026.

Two Mater Dei players in the 2028 class are expected to enroll during winter break, too. Defensive lineman Kye Duval and linebacker Harvey Millan. Another defensive lineman from Roy High in Utah, Madden Lima, came to the school mid fall semester, but is expected to be an immediate impact as a sophomore in 2026.

Cen10 is on the rise after beating MD twice last year.... MD is in trouble, Lara is going to ruin the Program....

All CIF

DIVISION 1
Offensive Player of the Year – Trent Mosley, WR, 12, Santa Margarita
Defensive Player of the Year – Dash Fifita, LB, 12, Santa Margarita
Championship Coach – Carson Palmer, Santa Margarita
Keawe Browne, Centennial/Corona, WR, 12
JD McKinley, Centennial/Corona, DE, 12
Ben Tameifun, Centennial/Corona, DL, 12
Jacob McKindey, Centennial/Corona, OL, 12
Jaden Walk-Green, Centennial/Corona, DB, 11
Ty Plinski, Centennial/Corona, WR, 12
Therman "Boogie" Williams, Centennial/Corona, DB, 12
Cory Lavender Jr, Mater Dei, DB, 12
Kodi Greene, Mater Dei, OL, 12
Shaun Scott, Mater Dei, LB, 12
Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Mater Dei, WR, 12
Lex Mailangi, Mater Dei, OL, 11
Caleb Sylvia, Mission Viejo, P, 12
Luke Fahey, Mission Viejo, QB, 12
JD Hill, Mission Viejo, DL, 12
Jeron Jones, Mission Viejo, DB, 12
Jack Junker, Mission Viejo, WR, 11
Aiden Migirdichian, Orange Lutheran, K, 12
Sean Morris II, Orange Lutheran, RB, 12
Sam Utu, Orange Lutheran, OL, 12
Lucas Rhoa, Orange Lutheran, OL, 11
Auma Jennings, Orange Lutheran, DL, 12
Marcus Fakaton, Orange Lutheran, DL, 11
Isaia Vandermade, Santa Margarita, DL, 11
Simote Katoanga, Santa Margarita, DE, 12
Alekisanita Holani, Santa Margarita, LB, 12
Joshua Holani, Santa Margarita, DB, 12
Trace Johnson, Santa Margarita, QB, 12
Ca'ron Willaims, Santa Margarita, DB, 10
Niniva Nicholson, Santa Margarita, OL, 12
Luke Sorensen, Servite, TE, 12
Elisha Mueller, Servite, OL, 10
Sevelino Taliauli, Servite, LB, 11
Brando MosQueda, Servite, LB, 12
Madden Riordan, Sierra Canyon, DB, 12
Mikhal Johnson, Sierra Canyon, DL, 12
Richard Wesley, Sierra Canyon, DE, 12
Jaxsen Stokes, Sierra Canyon, RB, 11
Gabriel Villalobos, St. John Bosco, OL, 11
Madden Williams, St. John Bosco, WR, 12
Dutch Horisk, St. John Bosco, DL, 12
Matthew Muasau, St. John Bosco, LB, 12

All CIF

DIVISION 1
Offensive Player of the Year – Trent Mosley, WR, 12, Santa Margarita
Defensive Player of the Year – Dash Fifita, LB, 12, Santa Margarita
Championship Coach – Carson Palmer, Santa Margarita
Keawe Browne, Centennial/Corona, WR, 12
JD McKinley, Centennial/Corona, DE, 12
Ben Tameifun, Centennial/Corona, DL, 12
Jacob McKindey, Centennial/Corona, OL, 12
Jaden Walk-Green, Centennial/Corona, DB, 11
Ty Plinski, Centennial/Corona, WR, 12
Therman "Boogie" Williams, Centennial/Corona, DB, 12
Cory Lavender Jr, Mater Dei, DB, 12
Kodi Greene, Mater Dei, OL, 12
Shaun Scott, Mater Dei, LB, 12
Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Mater Dei, WR, 12
Lex Mailangi, Mater Dei, OL, 11
Caleb Sylvia, Mission Viejo, P, 12
Luke Fahey, Mission Viejo, QB, 12
JD Hill, Mission Viejo, DL, 12
Jeron Jones, Mission Viejo, DB, 12
Jack Junker, Mission Viejo, WR, 11
Aiden Migirdichian, Orange Lutheran, K, 12
Sean Morris II, Orange Lutheran, RB, 12
Sam Utu, Orange Lutheran, OL, 12
Lucas Rhoa, Orange Lutheran, OL, 11
Auma Jennings, Orange Lutheran, DL, 12
Marcus Fakaton, Orange Lutheran, DL, 11
Isaia Vandermade, Santa Margarita, DL, 11
Simote Katoanga, Santa Margarita, DE, 12
Alekisanita Holani, Santa Margarita, LB, 12
Joshua Holani, Santa Margarita, DB, 12
Trace Johnson, Santa Margarita, QB, 12
Ca'ron Willaims, Santa Margarita, DB, 10
Niniva Nicholson, Santa Margarita, OL, 12
Luke Sorensen, Servite, TE, 12
Elisha Mueller, Servite, OL, 10
Sevelino Taliauli, Servite, LB, 11
Brando MosQueda, Servite, LB, 12
Madden Riordan, Sierra Canyon, DB, 12
Mikhal Johnson, Sierra Canyon, DL, 12
Richard Wesley, Sierra Canyon, DE, 12
Jaxsen Stokes, Sierra Canyon, RB, 11
Gabriel Villalobos, St. John Bosco, OL, 11
Madden Williams, St. John Bosco, WR, 12
Dutch Horisk, St. John Bosco, DL, 12
Matthew Muasau, St. John Bosco, LB, 12

The Shocking thing here is only 4 SJB players?.... And no D Lineman from SJB?.... That's Crazy!.... Looks like they put RSM's whole team on there which is a little overkill.... 🤣

Also.... Where is Henry from MD?.... He is the Best WR in the Country but he didn't make all CIF?.... That's absurd!.... 🤣