Orange County Top 25 Preview: Five marquee showdowns and a Game of the Week
Game of the Week: Centennial (1-0) vs No. 3 Santa Margarita (0-1)
Where, when: Trabuco Hills High, Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
What’s at stake: Centennial seeks to stay undefeated and reinforce its position near the top of the Orange County rankings, while Santa Margarita looks for its first win under first-year coach Carson Palmer.
What happened last week: Centennial rolled to a 42-14 victory over Servite, piling up nearly 550 yards of offense (Dominick Catalano threw for 298 yards and three TDs; the Huskies also rushed for 246 yards). Santa Margarita dropped a hard-fought 7-3 opener to Mission Viejo, with penalties, including a holding call that wiped out a potential Eagles TD.
Context: The CIF-SS playoff seeding tool HSratings.com lists Centennial No. 4 in California, Mission Viejo No. 5, and Santa Margarita No. 7. Santa Margarita has shown resiliency, but Centennial appears to be firing on all cylinders.
Prediction: Centennial. The Huskies look like the deeper, more balanced team at this stage and should give Santa Margarita its hands full on the road.
No. 9 Yorba Linda (1-0) vs No. 7 Edison (1-0)
Where, when: Huntington Beach High, Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
What’s at stake: A rematch of a wild 2024 clash that featured a late-game finish and a one-point victory for Yorba Linda last season.
What happened last week: Yorba Linda opened with a 41-0 win over Mayfair at SoFi Stadium, with Jack Lopez returning an interception for a TD and Thomas Knutson producing a 55-yard punt return for a score. Edison beat Clovis West 20-13, with linebacker Jude Gonterman posting 15 tackles and a sack.
Context: Edison returns a stout defensive performance and will look to avoid the late-game miscues that plagued them in the past.
Prediction: Edison. Expect a sharp, mistake-minimized effort from the Chargers to slow Yorba Linda’s momentum.
No. 15 Villa Park (1-0) vs No. 15 Western (1-0)
Where, when: Western High, Friday, 7:00 p.m.
What’s at stake: A clash of evenly matched top-15 teams that could set the tone for the late-season OC rankings.
What happened last week: Villa Park edged Carson 26-22 on a late Vinny La Gatta quarterback sneak with 42 seconds left, finishing with a 102-yard rushing effort from La Gatta. Western edged Los Angeles Salesian 34-31, highlighted by Chance Thomas’s 232 passing yards and three TDs, plus Skylar Lendsey’s 111 rushing yards and a TD.
Context: Villa Park is young but battle-tested; Western brings a mix of speed and size that could test Villa Park’s defense.
Prediction: Western. The Wildcats’ size and balance should provide the edge in a tight, high-profile OC showdown.
No. 18 Huntington Beach (1-0) vs No. 22 Trabuco Hills (0-0)
Where, when: Trabuco Hills High, Friday, 7:00 p.m.
What’s at stake: A chance for Huntington Beach to ride early momentum and establish itself in the early county race while Trabuco Hills opens its season at home.
What happened last week: Huntington Beach defeated Orange 35-18. Brady Edmunds, a Ohio State commit, threw for 213 yards and three TDs; he connected with Troy Foster for two TDs and also had a TD pass to Steel Kurtz, who starred on special teams and defense.
Context: Trabuco Hills is debuting its new-look squad, led by quarterback Tristan Zale, who threw for 2,908 yards and 30 TDs last season. HB’s offense looked cohesive in Week 1, giving them the confidence to travel well.
Prediction: Huntington Beach. The Oilers’ experience and the early-season harvest of productive play should translate into another win on the road.
Murrieta Valley (1-0) vs No. 5 Servite (0-1)
Where, when: Mt. San Antonio College, Friday, 7:00 p.m.
What’s at stake: Servite aims to rebound after a rough opener while Murrieta Valley looks to prove it belongs among the state’s top programs.
What happened last week: Servite’s energy and tempo were outmatched in a 42-14 loss to Centennial. Murrieta Valley is ranked No. 12 in the state by HSratings.com, indicating a strong test for Servite’s undefeated start.
Context: Servite remains loaded with speed across the skill positions, but must translate that talent into sustained production against Murrieta Valley’s pro-style and tempo.
Prediction: Murrieta Valley. The Nighthawks are well equipped to challenge Servite’s front and keep pace offensively.
Fryer on Football last week: 5-0
Additional notes for readers
– This week’s slate features a rare mix of Thursday and Friday games, with multiple top-15 and top-25 programs showcasing why Orange County football remains nationally relevant.
– Key players to watch across the games include Centennial’s Dominick Catalano, Santa Margarita’s Trace Johnson and USC commit Trent Mosley, Yorba Linda’s playmakers from last week, Edison’s defensive standouts, Villa Park’s La Gatta, Western’s Chance Thomas, Huntington Beach’s Brady Edmunds, and Murrieta Valley’s continued consistency against top competition.
– If you’re wagering or planning your weekend viewing, the Game of the Week is Centennial at Santa Margarita, but the Thursday night head-to-heads in Huntington Beach and the Friday night cross-county battles should deliver plenty of excitement as teams settle into their seasons.
Commentary and outlook
– The OC Top 25 continues to demonstrate depth across multiple classes, with a balanced mix of seasoned powerhouses and rising programs. Early-season results are shaping a competitive race for playoff positioning, and fans can expect tight games and high-intensity football throughout the county all season.
– The enthusiasm around Centennial’s start and Santa Margarita’s return to form under a well-known figure like Carson Palmer adds narrative heat to the matchups, while the Edison vs Yorba Linda rematch storyline provides a taste of the county’s recent football history.
If you’d like, I can tailor a version with player-by-player capsules, a printable game-by-game schedule, or a social-media friendly summary of key takeaways.