FOOTBALL NOTES: New county coaches make impact, two more debut Friday night

Irvine Stadium is one of the venues for Orange County’s version of Friday night lights. Irvine hosts Northwood in a non-league game. (PHOTO: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

OC coaching debuts

Several Orange County high school football coaches made successful debuts Friday night in their teams victories. New Huntington Beach coach Matthew Hatchette celebrated a win Thursday when the Oilers defeated Orange 35-18 at Fred Kelly Stadium.

At Bolsa Grande, the Matadors new head coach Doug Cooper, who has been assistant coach with the program, led his team to a 66-0 victory over Savanna. And Pete Karavedas, the former Sunny Hills coach who was brought in to rejuvenate the Fullerton program, celebrated his team’s 40-6 victory over Anaheim with his father, Nick Karavedas, one of the assistant coaches.

“Proud of kids and happy for the entire Fullerton community,” Nick Karavedas said on X after the game.

Friday night, Erik Terry, the former Irvine High School coach, makes his Northwood coaching debut when the Timberwolves face Coach Tom Ricci’s Irvine team. Both teams use Irvine Stadium. This will be Irvine’s home game. The two teams, former members of the Pacific Coast Conference, are now in separate leagues but are continuing to meet in non-league games.

Also Friday, former Woodbridge star running back Connor McBride makes his head coaching debut when the Warriors face Calvary Chapel at Segerstrom.

“Looking forward to it,” McBride said Friday.

Big night for Oilers

In the win over Orange, Huntington Beach was led by junior quarterback Brady Edmunds, who passed for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns, according to stats listed on X by Dominick Lorenz, the voice of the Oilers. Troy Foster and Nathan Villanueva scored two touchdowns for HB, according to the post.

Calvary Chapel leaders

Calvary Chapel, coached by Jack McInally, has some key players returning.

“We our led by our defensive leaders in Waldo Castrejon and Daniel Nieves,” the coach said. “Our sophomore quarterback Colin Wiles will be leading our offense. Our lines on both sides of the ball are much improved thanks to our new line coaches, Jeremiah Goyena and Joshua Garland. Looking forward to a great year.”

Jaguar player injured

Segerstrom High School’s football team is dedicated the season opener Friday in Palm Springs to Dannny Luna, who suffered an injury in a scrimmage last week.

“The leg injury sustained by Danny Luna was a season ending one,” said Coach Joseph Tagaloa. “He dislocated his ankle, which tore a couple ligaments and broke his tibia. Our prayers are with Danny now for complete healing and a speedy recovery. Our guys have taken it upon themselves to dedicate this game to him.”

Starting quarterbacks

Crean Lutheran transfer Dylan D’Epifanio has been named the starting quarterback for Northwood in the opener with Irvine, Terry, the head coach said.

McBride, the Woodbridge head coach, said that Waylon Stone will start at quarterback Friday for Woodbridge but Joey Coykendall will also see some playing time.

Lofty goals for BG

Cooper, the first year head coach, said Bolsa Grande’s football team has some high goals for the season.

“The goal is to win league and win a CIF title, those are our goals, that’s why I came in as head coach and that’s been from day on.”

Bolsa Grande won the CIF title in 1986.

“The farthest we got is quarterfinals about three years ago,” Cooper said of the recent post-season runs. “But I think we have the right mentality, as long as we stay healthy, we can make a good run.”

Bolsa Grande won the CIF Central Conference championship in 1986 defeating Valencia 24-7 at Orange Coast College in the final.

OCSZ football coverage

OC Sports Zone is beginning its eighth season covering high school football in Orange County. Joining editor/writer Tim Burt in the coverage is veteran writer Tom Connolly and photographer Fernando M. Donado, who have both been with the organization since its inception in July 2018.

Also on the OC Sports Zone team are Jacob Ramos, who joined the outlet last May. Jacob is also a member of the NewU sports staff at UC Irvine. Photographer Mark Bausman and Jake Rhodes, a new addition to the team, are also on the team.

Once again, coverage of games, scores, photos and updates on X will be part of the OC Sports Zone game plan. Check back for updates on X (@ocsportszone) Thursdays and Fridays.

Fernando M. Donado will also have bonus photos on X Friday night.

Some stories will be published late Friday and on Saturdays. The website is free.

—-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com