A year ago, Trent Mosley elevated his game so dramatically during the Southern Section football playoffs that Santa Margarita High ran the table and looked unbeatable by season's end, winning both Southern Section and state championships. With the 2026 postseason arriving, the natural question is which player is capable of pulling a Trent Mosley and becoming the difference-maker his team rides to a title.
The closest thing to a Mosley-like player this season may be Palos Verdes' Jalen Flowers. He has become so fast, strong and instinctive that he can break a big play at any moment, whether at receiver, returning a kickoff or punt, or making a play at safety. Southern Section Division 2 opponents simply cannot let him get the ball in the open field, because the result is usually a touchdown. Unbeaten Huntington Beach has a similar weapon in Dylin Bruce, whose speed turns short gains into touchdowns. Bruce has scored six times receiving, twice on interceptions, twice on punt returns and once on a kickoff return.
Several quarterbacks carry enormous weight this postseason. No team's fortunes are tied to a single player more than Carson's are to Chris Fields III, a senior who can beat defenses with his arm and his legs, and on whom the Colts' ambitious pursuit of City Section and state titles rests. At St. John Bosco, junior Koa Malau'ulu faces heavy pressure to avoid interceptions and deliver a Division 1 championship. A starter for three seasons, he occupies the same position DJ Uiagalelei once did, and Uiagalelei famously rallied the Braves from 34 points down as a senior to beat Mater Dei in the final. Crean Lutheran's Caden Jones, one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the Southland, could carry his team far in Division 2 on the strength of his judgment.
Sierra Canyon's Jaxsen Stokes may be the most protected player in the bracket. A Trinity League roadblock has always kept the Trailblazers from the Division 1 championship game, and the running back's rushing skills open up the passing game. Combined with a great defense, he needs to deliver for Sierra Canyon to finally break through. Corona Centennial welcomes back Jaden Walk-Green, who missed much of the season recovering from offseason knee surgery. He brings back all the little things he does well: tackling, intercepting passes, kicking field goals and PATs, catching passes and returning kickoffs and punts. Opponents take him for granted at their own peril in Division 1.
Chaparral's Michael Farinas might be underestimated as a 5-foot-9 receiver, but he is a big play waiting to happen on a team that is suddenly healthy, with five touchdowns rushing, nine receiving and one on a kickoff return. Orange junior Star Thomas III produced the best regular season of any Southland quarterback, throwing for more than 3,600 yards and 38 touchdowns while adding almost 500 yards and eight scores on the ground. If he keeps it going for 10-0 Orange, they will build a statue for him, though he faces a tough Division 2 opener at top-seeded Chaparral.
Offensive linemen rarely get noticed, but Orange Lutheran's Lucas Rhoa is worth watching. He simply pushes people around, and with him leading the way, the Lancers stunned top-seeded St. John Bosco in last season's Division 1 playoffs. Even with injuries at quarterback, they must not be overlooked.
In the City Section, Garfield intends to ride Ceasar Reyes in Division 1 after being given class relief. He has rushed for close to 2,500 yards and 39 touchdowns while being rested at times to save him for the playoffs, and he relies on ice baths to recover from the bumps and bruises of hard-fought games. In Southern Section Division 10, Nogales senior Gatsbee Gumban averages 10 yards per carry with nearly 2,000 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns for the 10-0 Nobles.
And yes, there is another Mosley at Santa Margarita. Junior receiver Grant Mosley did not play until the Eagles' fifth game because of an injury, but all signs point to him being back in football shape and doing things only players with a Mosley gene can do.
The trenches could decide one marquee matchup, where Inglewood senior Elija Harmon, at 6-foot-3 and nearly 300 pounds, teams with 6-3, 287-pound Myels Smith to form an unbreakable brick wall on defense. That sets up a huge first-round Division 2 opener against unbeaten Huntington Beach and standout quarterback Brady Edmunds.
