FOOTBALL UPDATE: Countdown to the start of OC high school season under way

Fred Kelly Stadium on the campus of El Modena will once again be the site of many high school football games in Orange County. (Photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

High school football season in Orange County is only about a month away with most high school football teams opening zero week action on either Thursday, Aug. 17, Friday, Aug. 18 or Saturday, Aug. 19.

Many teams are involved in summer passing league tournaments to prepare for their openers.

There’s also been speculation about the new re-leaguing plan for Orange County, which if approved, would take effect for the 2024 football season.

League alignments will remain the same this season.

NOTES:

—Santa Ana High School’s football team will open the season under new coach Rory Schoonmaker on Friday, Aug. 18 at Paramount. The Saints first home game is Friday, Aug. 25 vs. defending CIF champion Laguna Hills at Santa Ana Stadium.

—Cypress High School’s football team, coached by Rick Feldman, went 8-0 to win the Paloma Tournament last weekend.

—Capo Valley’s football team, coached by Sean Curtis, hosted its annual football camp for mothers of the players, according to a report on Twitter. It was the largest and most successful since the camp has started, the note added.

—Those attending a memorial service for popular Irvine High School assistant football coach Charles E. Lee took one final lap around the track at Irvine Stadium in honor of Lee, according to Vaquero Coach Tom Ricci. Lee also led a youth track club. Lee, 84, died on June 13, 2023, according to his daughter, Jocelyn Vanegas.

—Mater Dei captured the 2023 Battle of the Beach Tournament at Edison High School.

—OC Sports Zone will again provide same night coverage of high school football games in Orange County. Coverage will continue into the weekend. We have also has started to run football previews and we’re planning more before the start of the season.

Click on the links:

Irvine football team counting on solid leadership and returning players to lead the way

Expectations still high for Laguna Hills football team, defending CIF and state champion

Crean Lutheran, led by talented returning players, looks for another successful season

Godinez football coach sees significant growth after team’s hard work in off-season

Twelve starters return to lead Santa Ana football team under first-year head coach

Experienced Foothill football team poised to battle for league championship

Beckman football team looks for experienced offensive line to lead the way

Uni football team looks to stay healthy and make strides under third year coach

Two returning All-CIF players lead Westminster football team into season opener

Portola coach ‘excited and encouraged by competitive attitude and effort’ of his team

Defending CIF champion Yorba Linda out to continue success with new starters

Ocean View football team wants to ‘protect the nest’ under first-year coach

Sunny Hills football team, with ‘retooled offense,’ has high expectations for season

Northwood looks to keep rolling after winning two consecutive CIF championships

Fullerton football team looks to ‘make an impact’ in Freeway League race this season

Santa Ana Valley making strides in off-season preparing for season opener vs. Beckman

New Marina football coach Charlie TeGantvoort encouraged by progress of his squad

Experienced Calvary Chapel football team preparing for season opener vs. Azusa

Cypress returns ‘a lot of key pieces’ from team that reached CIF championship game

Western’s football team looks to compete in a higher CIF playoff division, veteran coach says

Segerstrom football team starts preparing soon for season opener at San Pasqual

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Send football news to: timburt@ocsportszone.com

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