Mid Season Analysis by Teran Rodriguez
All seven of the Sunset League football teams are at the halfway point of the 2024 season. While some teams haven’t started league, some kick off league play this week in week six of the season. Here’s how some of the teams are faring through six weeks of the season - including week zero.Corona del Mar (3-2, Bravo League): The Sea Kings have had their ups and downs, but they still look like the powerhouse people see them as. Max Nashed has led the team at the quarterback position while Wyatt Lucas, coming off a 352 rushing yard performance against Trabuco Hills, has been a force to be reckoned with. The Sea Kings kick off Bravo League play this week at San Juan Hills.
Edison (4-2, Alpha League): Some could say the Chargers could be 5-0 as their first two losses were by one point each. And the teams that they lost to are no pushovers, as Clovis West and Yorba Linda are a combined 8-2. Save Niumata is Edison’s quarterback under center with Sam Thomson getting some action here and there, but running back Julius Gillick is the main headliner offensively, leading ALL OF ORANGE COUNTY in rushing yards. Edison doesn’t start league play for two weeks, but is back at it with a home game against Helix of La Mesa this week.
Fountain Valley (1-4, Foxtrot League): The post Noa Banua era has been rough for quarterback Lucas Alexander the Barons. After winning its first game in convincing fashion over Ocean View, they’ve lost their last four games. Two of those losses came from legit teams being Tustin and Edison while another came at the hands of Marina, which is currently 5-0. Another loss came at the hands of Esperanza, which wound up winning the game in the final 10 seconds after being down 20-17. Fountain Valley has a chance to right its wrongs as they start Foxtrot League play on the road against Orange, a team still in search of its first win of the season. The Barons go into league playing having lost 25 straight league games dating back to the 2019 season. Their last league win was against Newport Harbor on October 26, 2018 in a 34-21 victory.
Huntington Beach (3-2, Epsilon League): The second year with Brady Edmunds at quarterback has had its fair share of ups and downs for the Oilers. Despite this, they have a winning record going in their first league game at Laguna Hills. Wide receiver Troy Foster has been sensational for Huntington Beach and he’s only a junior. If the Oilers can stay consistent defensively and develop the run game, they could be a serious threat in not only their league, but in the playoffs as well.
Los Alamitos (4-2, Alpha League): Just like Edison, the Griffins are 4-2 and have not had their bye due to playing in the four-team Alpha League and needing seven non-league games. Other than their most recent clunker game against Serra of Gardena resulting in a 42-7 loss, Los Alamitos has been in every game this year, which included their 27-24 loss to Mililani. Some thought this was going to be a trying year for the Griffins after losing players to graduation and through transfer, but this year’s team is just talented, with returning players such as quarterback Alonzo Esparza, running back Lenny Ibarra, wide receiver Ja’Myron “Tron” Baker and linebacker Jackson Raguse leading the way.
Marina (5-0, Lambda League): The Vikings are the only Sunset League team that’s undefeated and one out of 16 teams from Orange County that remains undefeated entering week six. One of the reasons why Marina is undefeated is because of its offensive line keeping quarterback Garrett Hunnicut’s jersey clean for the most part and the defense allowing only 6.6 points per game – having only given up 33 points to opponents overall. Vikings head coach Charlie TeGantvoot’s motto is “no line, no shine.” Other standouts on Marina up to week six. include two-way player Shane Cassidy, running back Gabe Carles, Brayden O’Rourke, Shayden Sorochman and Troy Atkins. The Vikings look to move to 6-0 with a road game against Sunny Hills.
Newport Harbor (1-4, Bravo League): After four tough games to start the season, the Sailors picked up its first win of the season and in the Matt Burns era, beating St.Augustine 28-7. In that game, Jake Meer started for the Sailors in place of Bode Stefano, who suffered a back injury in Newport Harbor’s 41-21 loss against Cajon of San Bernardino. Two-way player Cade Fegel has been lights out for Newport Harbor while Davis Post has been a tackling machine defensively. The Sailors open up Bravo League play at home against Tesoro and Burns knows his team will most likely be underdogs in almost every game. But league play is a whole different beast where teams are battling it out for an automatic qualifier for the CIF-SS playoffs.