The Union-Tribune is previewing San Diego’s high school football teams ahead of the Aug. 20 season opener.

We continue with the Metro Conference:

Metro Conference
Mesa League
Eastlake

Last season: 7-7

Coach: Jose Mendoza, seventh year

Key players: David Branco (RB-LB), Jovan Ceja (DE-TE), CJ Wilson (DB), Nick Alba (DB), Stephen Guevara (LB), Diego Cabrera (OL), Noel Addleman (OL), Eidrin Estrelon (RB), Santi Aleta (WR).

Scouting report: The Titans return six all-league players and 15 who started last season. Branco returns after gaining 735 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns. Estrelon added 401 yards and a pair of TDs. Jeremiah Holiday is a transfer from Mount Miguel. Aleta is the top returning receiver, but newcomers Zaymir Webb and Justice Alcantara and the returning Ceja should get opportunities. Guevara tops the linebackers, while Wilson leads the defensive backs.

Mater Dei Catholic

Last season: 7-4

Coach: Rashard Cook, third year

Key players: Bryce Collins-Howard (RB), Diego Mendoza (RB-LB), Reynan Siababa (RB-LB), Visi Nava (DB), Maddox Faiivae (OL-DL), Marcos Serrano (OL-DL), Paula Latu (OL-DL), Luis Heraldez (PK-P), Adrian Wilson (RB-DB), Erick West (Ath), Tyray Ragland (LB), River Contreras (WR-DB), Jordyn Fitzpatrick (WR-DB), Qasim Williams (RB), Nate Orozco (LB), Warren Florence (DB).

Scouting report: Jayden Blondin and Brayden Phanco are expected to battle for the starting QB spot. Williams rushed for 1,156 yards and 15 TDs last year at Montgomery. The Crusaders appear strongest on the offensive line, where Latu, Faaivae and Serrano return. Heraldez is considered among the top young kickers in the state.

Montgomery

Last season: 6-5

Coach: Freddy Dunkle, ninth year

Key players: Giovanni Benavente (WR-DB), Matei Sepulveda (OL-DL), Ronnie Joiner (RB-LB), Justin Dunkle (WR-DB), Aiden Avalos (OL-DL), Mario Hernandez Velasquez (WR-DB), Marquis Benton (WR-DB), Ladamien Singleton (WR-DB), Terrell Lindsay (RB), Alonso Rodriquez (WR-DB), Miguel Reyes (DL-TE), Reyes Bonnett (QB), Willie Fox (WR-DB), Liam Wilson (WR-DB).

Scouting report: Transfers hurt the Aztecs, but they return eight receivers, led by Benton. Reyes can be targeted at tight end. Veterans Joiner and Lindsay make a good 1-2 running punch behind a line that includes veterans Sepulveda and Avalos.

Otay Ranch

Last season: 4-7

Coach: Howard Bannister, second year

Key players: Jaidon Castillo (RB-LB), Trey James (DB), Carlos Lopez (WR-DB), Aaron Pena (DL-LB), Sebastian Kidd (OL), Caleb Delaughter (QB), Brayden Hyman (WR-DB), Jeremiah Jordan (RB-LB).

Scouting report: Delaughter stepped in at QB at the end of last season; a big season under center would give the Mustangs the balance they need with Castillo returning at running back. Look for a healthy Lopez to put up big receiving numbers. Up front, Kidd is a key veteran. Pena has shifted to defensive end, where he’s expected to give opposing QBs fits. James and Hyman anchor the defensive backfield.

Olympian

Last season: 8-3

Coach: Lew Barnes, second year

Key players: Andres Aranda (OL-DL), Jahmir Blackmon (RB-DB), Ian Burke (OL-DL), Julian Carl Devera (OL-DL), Jack Delgado (OL-LB), Jeremiah Delgado (RB-LB), Johnny Espinoza (DB), Walter Ignacio (RB-DB), Josiah Rivera (OL-DL), Lorenzo Nava (OL-DL), Jordan Sandoval (WR), Giovanni Ware (WR).

Scouting report: Olympian finished second in the South Bay League, earning a jump to the Mesa League. The key will be finding a QB. Returning rushers Blackmon, Ignacio and Jeremiah Delgado and newcomer Jace Reiner are looking to make big strides behind a big line. Veteran linebacker Jack Delgado returns; Espinoza, Ignacio and Blackmon are good-sized DBs.

Metro South Bay League
Bonita Vista

Last season: 3-8

Coach: Diante Lee, first year

Key players: Anthony Lorenz (QB), Julian Jimenez (OL), Diego Macias (TE-OL), Alex Delgado (OL), Isaiah Jimenez (RB-LB), Ta-Vyon Moore (RB), Adrian Torrentes (WR-DB), Lukas Yaomoto (TE).

Scouting report: Lorenz threw for a pair of scores last season. The ball will probably be headed to a trio of tall receivers that includes Macias, Yaomoto and Torrentes. Julian Jimenez, Delgado and Macias return up front; Isaiah Jimenez and Yaomoto anchor the linebacker spots.

Chula Vista

Last season: 3-9

Coach: Jimmy Clark, second year

Key players: Elijah Richardson (RB-DE), Gabriel Ruiz (WR-DB), Jaylen Clark (WR-DB), Mann Miranda (OL-DL), Edwin Hernandez (OL-DL), Myshawn Mitchell (WR-DB), Cesar Ceja (TE-DE), Nathan Cole (OL-DL), Gael Camacho (OL-DL), David Naranjo (OL-DL), Elijah Johnson (RB-DB), Jaidyn Davies (RB-DB).

Scouting report: The Spartans rushed the ball 448 times last season. With Richardson returning, Chula Vista is expected to continue that trend. Isaiah Orta gained valuable experience a year ago, passing for 151 yards in limited action, but the Spartans are hoping his accuracy improves. Ruiz is the team’s top returning receiver. Miranda, Hernandez, Cole, Camacho and Naranjo anchor the line.

Hilltop

Last season: 8-4

Coach: Bryan Wagner, seventh year

Key players: Lajuan Johnson (RB-DB), Tre Nichols III (Ath), Abraham Matuz (TE-LB), Zion Almazon (TE-LB), Seven Tarkington (WR-DB), Dante Hernandez (DE), Jacob Orona (OL-DL), Zachary Humphrey (TE-LB), Roberto Izquiedo (OL-DL), Victor Ruiz (WR-DB), Octavio Bonilla (QB), Braylon Gonzalez (DB), Max Vaquero (RB-LB).

Scouting report: Eleven starters return for the defending league champions. Johnson rushed for 733 yards and seven TDs a year ago. Nichols, Matuz and Almazon return on defense, where the Lancers have weapons. Izquierdo and Orona anchor a line that needs newcomers to step up. The Lancers have depth at defensive back.

Sweetwater

Last season: 4-7

Coach: Brandon Burris, third year

Key players: Abdul Osman (WR-DB), Noah Calingay (WR-DB), Kekoa Kramer (QB), Josh Roman (WR-DB), Faisal Musa (RB), Niel Saludares (RB-LB), Khamarion Merritt (DE), Travon Cunningham (WR-DB).

Scouting report: The Red Devils have a major returning target in Osman, who grabbed 44 passes for 609 yards and seven TDs a year. Calingay, Roman and Cunningham are joined by 6-4 tight end Merritt. Saludares and Musa will get a good look at running back.

Metro Pacific League
Castle Park

Last season: 1-9

Coach: Airrien Smith, third year

Key players: Evan Lopez (QB), Diego Perez (RB-LB), Isaac Alatorre (TE-LB), Gianni Monterrosa (WR-DB), Daniel Torrez (WR-DB), Juan Lopez (WR-DB), Carson Brown (OL-DL), Mevale Winslow (OL-DL), Leevi Duschane (RB-LB).

Scouting report: Lopez passed for 579 yards and six TDs a year ago, also scoring four times on the ground. Diego Perez is a solid runner who doubles as a linebacker. Duscharne is expected to contribute on the ground. Monterrosa and Torres will be joined at receiver by newcomer Juan Lopez. Brown and Winslow are good-sized two-way linemen.

Mar Vista

Last season: 6-5

Coach: Sergio Villalva, second year

Key players: Braylon Shumate (WR-DB), Julian Davis (DE), Holden Bell (QB), Luke Everett (RB-LB), Jehiel Crawford (RB-DB), Noah Hudkins (OL-DL), Omar Ortiz (OL-DL), Aaron Shelby (WR-DB), Alfred Arise (TE-DE), Cade Corchado (WR-DB), Sergio Gonzalez (RB-LB), Estras Orozco (OL-DL), Terrell Johnson (DE).

Scouting report: Mar Vista returns nine starters, Bell. The all-league QB threw for 1,561 yards and 22 TDs a year ago. Shumate, another all-league player, caught 27 passes for 541 yards and 10 TDs and is an anchor at CB. Up front, all-leaguer Hudkins joins the veteran Orozco and a half-dozen newcomers. The secondary is loaded.

San Ysidro

Last season: 5-5

Coach: Giantoni Canale, third year

Key players: Eydan Coutinho (WR-DB-PK), Aiden Allen (OL-DL), Caleb Contreras (WR-CB), Rico Calaguas (QB-LB), Jeyren Lopez (OL-DL), Andrew Apatiga (RB-LB), Julian Williams (OL-DL), Adam Ali (OL-DL).

Scouting report: Calaguas is listed as the QB heading into the season and Apatiga, now a junior, gained varsity experience a year ago. Contreras had 23 catches in 2025, while Coutinho added 10. Allen and Lopez were two-way linemen a year ago; they’ll get help from Williams and Ali.

Southwest-San Diego

Last season: 5-5

Coach: Domonic Cruz, sixth year

Key players: Dylan Garcia (LB), Isaac Munoz (QB-LB), Leo Holguin (QB), Adrian Alfaro (OL-DL), Barrington Bowens (OL-DL), Alan Acosta (OL-DL), Samuel Gonzalez (RB), Joseph Ellis (RB-LB), Elijah Lewis (WR-DB).

Scouting report: Holguin returns after throwing for 1,275 yards and 10 TDs. Gonzalez rushed for 922 yards on 138 carries, 16 of which ended in TDs. Alfaro, Acosta and Bowen are joined by newcomer Junior Salas up front. Garcia, Munoz, Ellis, and newcomer Yves Tido are solid at linebacker, with junior Marco Armenta impressing at DB.