By Joe Snyder
High school football teams from all over California are already gearing for the 2026 season looking for the prestigious prizes; the CIF sectional and state championships.
It is just 15 days before all local prep teams begin their season opener. Serra, Gardena and North Torrance will have some very tough but interesting games beginning on Aug. 21. The Cavaliers already have their stadium that partially burned down rebuilt but they still begin the season at El Camino College for their big showdown against Bay League power Palos Verdes. Last year, Serra shut out the Sea Kings 26-0 at ECC bur P.V. returns fourth-year starting preseason all-American quarterback Ryan Rakaski, who is looking to have a spectacular season. The Sea Kings have several other outstanding players back as they look to capture a CIF-Southern Section and State championships. After graduating from Palos Verdes in June, Rakaski will take his talent to University of Nevada, a member of the newly revised PAC 12.
For the past numerous seasons, among Serra’s football talent was speed and the Cavaliers will be looking at that to make the turnaround after a large number of injuries sent a potentially talented squad into missing the CIF-Southern Section playoffs for the first time in 21 seasons. Along with last season’s ace sprinter Wesley Ace, who is expected to star at defensive back and will be headed for San Jose State University next season, the Cavaliers received a transfer from Manhattan Beach Mira Costa in A.J. McBean. McBean is expected to play running back and ran as fast as 10.53 in the 100-meter dash in keying the Mustangs to their first CIF-Southern Section Division I track and field crown last spring. McBean committed to Stanford University.
Gardena begins its season at Hawthorne, which has the first female head football coach in CIF-Southern Section history in Jazmine Gamble. The Cougars have not enjoyed much success over the past several years and we’ll see what Gamble can do to turn the program around. Hawthorne continues to play in the Ocean League with Bay League transfer Lawndale, Pioneer transfers Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula and South Torrance, along with Beverly Hills, a one-time successful program that has not enjoyed much success in recent years.
North Torrance begins against a vastly improved Orange High squad on the road. Orange could be much improved led by a very good quarterback and a wide receiver who transferred from a CIF-Southern Section power Mission Viejo. After winning three consecutive Pioneer League titles before falling to fourth place, behind champion Torrance, runner-up Redondo, and third-place Santa Monica, last year, is faced with mostly rebuilding. The Saxons have just seven overall returning starters but one of them is all-Pioneer League defensive back Vince Aleman.
Here are my league predictions. In the Marine League, defending CIF-Los Angeles City Open Division champion Carson returns Player of the Year Chris Fields, III and the Colts could even go beyond winning the City title as they seek their first California state crown. The Colts begin the season at CIF-San Diego Section power Lincoln Prep, but one may want to circle Sept. 3 when the Colts play their third game at home against Palos Verdes. It will be a great match-up between Fields and Rakawski. Carson also has another power in Long Beach Poly (away) on Sept. 11 and visits North Torrance on Sept. 18 before beginning the Marine League at home against Gardena on Oct. 2. San Pedro continues to look strong as well and Narbonne could be a sleeper, but the Gauchos continue their three-year suspension from postseason due to the infractions of 2024 in the so-called “Brett Steigh Scandal.” Gardena hopes to be in the thick of the race, as well, after doing quite well in the spring-summer passing and other fundamental competitions.
Torrance and Culver City appear to be in a close battle to win the Pioneer League title. Look for Santa Monica to be in the thick of the race. The Tartars start the season with a bang against Bay League power Mira Costa at home on Aug. 21, before visiting Redondo a week later.
The Bay League appears to be a toss-up between Palos Verdes, Inglewood and Lawndale Leuzinger. Don’t count out Mira Costa or Redondo, though. After making the CIF-Southern Section finals for the first time since World War II, the Sea Hawks will have their hands full in the much tougher Bay. Redondo lost the likes of running back Bo Ausmus, quarterback Cole Leinart and a few other key starters but do return defensive back Kyle Westbrook and offensive lineman Seth Sullivan, bound for San Diego State University next fall. Mira Costa head coach Don Morrow is just one win shy of the South Bay lifetime victory record of 289, set by former legendary Carson and Wilmington Banning coach Gene Volgelow.
Lawndale appears to be the Ocean League favorite but Peninsula and South Torrance will seek to contend, as well.
In the Mission League, it appears that Chatsworth Sierra Canyon will be the favorite. Serra will be right up there. La Puente Bishop Amat appears to be in the thick of the race, along with West Hills Chaminade.
El Camino College’s football team begins its season at Santa Barbara City College in a non-conference game on Aug. 29. The Warriors’ home opener will be on Sept. 12 against nemesis Walnut Mt. San Antonio College on Sept. 12. The Mounties eliminated ECC from the Southern California playoffs the last two seasons. El Camino begins the National Central Conference at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga on Sept. 19 before its first conference home game against Mt. San Jacinto from Hemet on Sept. 26. All games begin at 6 p.m.
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Gardena Seniors top Gonzales Pk; juniors get edged in youth baseball
Last Thursday, the Gardena-Rosecrans Park senior baseball team was slated to face Kennedy High from La Palma, but Kennedy canceled out.
Instead, for the second time in the past three weeks, Gardena took on host Gonzales Park and, for the second time, came out with a win. Gardena topped Gonzales 6-4.
Anthony Macias led Gardena with a triple. He scored two runs and drove in two. Juan Castellanos had a run-scoring single. Damion Gonzalez singled and scored a run.
On Friday, Gardena’s junior squad lost to Gonzales Park II 6-5.
Diego Romo hit a two-run double. Jeremiah Edwards drove in a run with a double, as did Elijah Wilkerson. Romo pitched two innings and gave up one run.
Gardena’s seniors face Dorsey on Saturday at 5 p.m. Its junior squad played Wednesday against a team to be announced.
