News Summary
Southern California’s CIF Southern Section is set for an exhilarating high school football season, showcasing top quarterbacks and competitive teams. Senior reporter Tarek Fattal will reveal the preseason Top 25 rankings, spotlighting standout players like Brady Smigiel and Oscar Rios. Mater Dei aims for another title after their recent successes, while various teams prepare for a challenging season filled with potential breakout stars. The competitive equity rules add another layer of excitement, revealing untapped talent across the region.
Southern California is gearing up for another exciting high school football season, particularly in the competitive CIF Southern Section, where some of the country’s top quarterbacks are set to showcase their talents. Senior reporter Tarek Fattal is anticipated to unveil the preseason Top 25 rankings for the CIF Southern Section on Sunday, August 11, highlighting players who are expected to excel in the 2025 season.
A selection of notable quarterbacks to keep an eye on includes:
- Brady Smigiel (Newbury Park, Senior): In 2024, he amassed an impressive 3,521 passing yards with 49 touchdown passes against only 3 interceptions. His achievements earned him the Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Football award.
- Oscar Rios (Downey, Senior): Rios completed over 60% of his passes for more than 2,500 passing yards, contributing 22 touchdown passes along with 735 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.
- Brady Edmunds (Huntington Beach, Junior): An Ohio State commit, Edmunds had an outstanding season, throwing for 3,222 yards and 36 touchdowns in 2024.
- Luke Fahey (Mission Viejo, Senior): Sharing quarterback duties last season, Fahey has secured a scholarship to Ohio State and is expected to have a breakout year.
- Ryan Hopkins (Mater Dei, Senior): A former JV player, Hopkins recorded 1,111 passing yards and amassed 13 passing touchdowns and 8 rushing touchdowns last season.
- Bryson Beaver (Vista Murrieta, Senior): An All-CIF South Section Division 3 selection, Beaver passed for 3,214 yards, reached 33 touchdown passes, and added 2 rushing touchdowns during his junior year.
- Brady Huhn (Senior): Huhn also had a productive season, throwing for over 2,000 yards with 19 touchdowns.
- Dane Weber (Sophomore): A standout sophomore with 11 college offers, Weber tallied 2,660 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and 834 rushing yards.
- Ryan Rakowski (Palos Verdes, Junior): Rakowski has been a starter since his freshman year and holds offers from major programs including Auburn, SMU, Arkansas, and Utah.
- Jaden Jefferson (Sophomore): Committed to Sacramento State, Jefferson threw for over 2,600 yards and achieved 30 touchdowns during his sophomore season.
Last year, the Mater Dei football team secured their second consecutive CIF-SS Division 1 title and claimed the national title by defeating St. John Bosco in the section final and then De La Salle in the CIF State Open Division title game. Meanwhile, Newbury Park, under the leadership of quarterback Brady Smigiel, captured the CIF Southern Section Division 2 title, marking their first championship since 1993.
Additional noteworthy events included Julius Gillick of Edison being ejected from the CIF Southern Section Division 3 semifinal, disallowing him to participate in the final match, which saw Edison emerge victorious against their opponents with a score of 35-21. Also, St. Pius managed to earn a Division 8 title under coach Devah Thomas, achieving this despite a challenging record of 1-9 during the season, thanks in part to new competitive equity rules.
The CIF Southern Section is widely recognized for its robust talent pool and competitive high school football programs, notably including the powerhouse teams of Mater Dei and St. John Bosco. The upcoming season showcases a mixture of established performers along with rising stars, adding to the vibrant competitive landscape of high school football in Southern California.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
California High School Football: Top Quarterbacks Spotlight
Mission Viejo High School Football Season Preview
High School Football Teams Prepare for Upcoming Season
Mission Viejo High School Football Prepares for Competitive Season
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Brush Fire Forces Evacuations in Laguna Beach
California High School Football Gears Up for Competitive Season
Quarterback Luke Fahey Commits to Ohio State University
California High School Football Season Prepares for Action
Additional Resources
- Southern California’s Top QBs to Watch
- Wikipedia: High School Football in the U.S.
- USC Trojans: Confidence Level Year Two
- Google Search: USC Football
- Prep Rally: Early Look at High School Quarterbacks
- Google Scholar: High School Football
- NY Times: USC Football Spring Practice
- Encyclopedia Britannica: USC Trojans
- Sam Huard Transferring to USC
- Google News: CIF Southern Section
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MISSION VIEJO STAFF WRITER The MISSION VIEJO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMissionViejo.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Mission Viejo, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Oso Fit 5K Fun Run and Community Health Fair, Walk Against Drugs & Community Fair, and National Night Out. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce and Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo, plus leading businesses in retail and education that power the local economy such as The Shops at Mission Viejo, Capistrano Unified School District, and Amazon Delivery Station. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
