No. 10 Valencia
Larry Muir, 14th 2021 record: 8-5, 2-2 Foothill League, won Southern Section Division 5 title
Top returners: Reid Farrell, LB, Jr.;Trey Erickson, QB, Sr.; Daniel Hernandez, RB, Sr.; Jack Gieser, LB, Sr.; Jake Pikor, DE, Jr.; Daniel Acosta, OL, Jr.; Anthony Castillo, DL, Jr.; Dylan Kelly, WR, Sr.; Cameron Fontal, K/P, Sr.
Key losses: Duhron Goodman, WR/DB; Tyler Voss, QB; Zamondre Merriweather, ATH; Giorgio Spiropoulos, RB.
Newcomers: Jayboe Wilson, WR, Jr.; Sam Gieser, LB, Jr.; Luke Cruz, DB, Jr.; Jordan Cardenas, DB, Jr. MUIR SAYS...
Team's biggest strength: “Returning quarterback that led team to CIF final last year.”
Team's biggest challenge: “Young offensive line... will need the whole team to grow up quickly.” TEAM OUTLOOK
Valencia has faced more Foothill League adversity the past two seasons than it did the previous 11seasons, which all resulted in league championship crowns.
The last two seasons (including the 2021spring season), Saugus has been the league champion. The salt in the wound for the Vikings came last year when they fell in league to West Ranch for the first time and then lost to Hart for the first time since 2011.
From the outside, more parity in the Foothill League is great. But that's probably not how Valencia sees it. Despite the rocky league campaign, the Vikings benefited from the new CIF-SS playoff system — based on the CalPreps.com rankings — that placed them in the Division 5playoffs. They topped Oaks Christian in the championship game, giving coach Larry Muir his first CIF title.
Reid Farrell might be the best all-around player in the area. He was the CIF-SS Division 5 Defensive Player of the Year and a Daily News All-Area first-team selection in 2021as a sophomore.
Aug. 19: at Bishop Amat Aug. 26: vs. Quartz Hill Sept. 2: at Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks
Sept. 9: vs. Rancho Cucamonga
Sept. 16: vs. Saugus
Sept. 23: at Castaic
Sept. 30: vs. Golden Valley Oct. 7: at West Ranch
Oct. 21: at Hart
Oct. 28: vs. Canyon Prediction: 6-4. Valencia will know what it's made of almost immediately, when it faces Mission League program Bishop Amat in its season opener. The nonleague games against Notre Dame and Rancho Cucamonga are toss-ups. Saugus and West Ranch will be Valencia's toughest league games.