No. 7 West Ranch

Coach: Chris Varner, 7th 2021 record: 8-3, 4-1 Foothill League

Top returners: Ryan Staub, QB, Sr.; Chaz Hilst, WR, Sr.; Maverick Diaz,

WR, Sr.; William Sidel, DB/ WR, Sr.; Sean Scott, DL/ OL, Sr.; Max Johnson, OL/ DL, Sr.; Griffen Nibargar, OL/DL, Sr.; Grayson Gill, DB, Sr.; Conner Reyes, LB, Sr.; Brady Van Bennekum, LB, Sr.

Key losses: Dylan Cotti, WR; Dylan Roof, RB; Tommy Wunsch, OL/DL. Newcomers: Isaac Ellis, WR, Sr.; Jayden Martin, DB, Sr.; Tyler Jones, DB, Sr.; Luke Deperno, RB, So.; Tyler Scott, DB, Sr.

VARNER SAYS...

Team’s biggest strength: “Senior leadership and experience.”

“Staying healthy and maintaining focus.”

If there’s one thing that gives a team a chance to win every Friday, it’s an elite QB. West Ranch has one in Ryan Staub, a Colorado commit who aided the Wildcats to their best Foothill League campaign in program history.

Staub threw for 2,414 yards and 21 touchdowns en route to a 4-1 league record and a program-best second-place finish behind two-time defending champion Saugus. The team returns a bevy of seniors who will look to expand on last year’s success. On defense, the team is stout up front and athletic in the secondary. On offense, two of the team’s top three wideouts from last year return, but the biggest question mark will be the running game. The team’s top two rushers from 2021 graduated, leaving Staub as the team’s leading returning rusher (324 yards, six TDs in 2021).

If West Ranch can establish a respectable running game, Staub could have a Foothill League MVP year.

SCHEDULE

Aug. 19: vs St. Francis Aug. 26: at Buena

Sept. 1: vs Antelope Valley Sept. 9: at St. Paul

Sept. 16: vs Canyon

Sept. 23: vs Saugus

Sept. 30: vs Hart

Oct. 7: at Valencia

Oct. 14: vs Golden Valley Oct. 21: vs Castaic Prediction: 6-4. Varner put together a very challenging nonleague schedule for his team, maybe the toughest the program has ever encountered. If the Wildcats can begin league play 2-2 and lock up an automatic playoff spot (at least third place), they’ll be battle tested and a tough out in the postseason.

PHOTO BY ANDY HOLZMAN West Ranch quarterback Ryan Staub, a Colorado commit, is back to lead the offense this season after leading his team to a record-best season in 2021.