Who will be game-changers in City and Southern

A yr in the past, during the Southern Section soccer playoffs, Trent Mosley turned so distinctive that Santa Margarita High ran the desk and seemed unbeatable by season‘s end en route to winning Southern Section and state championships.

Which player is capable of pulling a Trent Mosley to be a difference-maker during the postseason of 2026?

The candidates:

• Jalen Flowers, Palos Verdes. He has become so fast, strong and instinctive that at any moment he can make a big play at receiver, returning a kickoff or punt or making a play on defense at safety. Any opponent in the Southern Section Division 2 playoffs cannot let him have the ball in the open field or it’s a landing. He’s as close to a Mosley-like participant as there’s this season.
• Chris Fields III, Carson. No staff’s fortunes are more tied to a single participant than Carson’s. Yes, the offensive line has to block, the receivers have to get open and the protection has to stop the run, but the Colts’ formidable focus on profitable City Section and state titles relies upon on Fields, a senior quarterback who can beat groups with his arm and legs.

  As the playoffs start in high faculty soccer, this is admittedly the first time in years that there’s no sure No. 1 quarterback in the Southland based on efficiency and staff achievement. Past ones have been Luke Fahey, Bryce Young, Brady Smigiel, Elijah Brown. Let’s see who…

  — eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) November 2, 2026

• Jaxsen Stokes, Sierra Canyon. There’s always been a Trinity League roadblock to stop the Trailblazers from reaching the championship sport of the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. Stokes, a operating back, is the participant who must be protected at all prices. His speeding abilities open the passing sport. Combined with a great protection, he’ll need to ship for the Trailblazers to finally break through the Trinity gauntlet.

  

  Jaden Walk-Green of Corona Centennial outduels Kayden Dixon-Wyatt of Mater Dei last season for interception.

  (Craig Weston)

• Jaden Walk-Green, Corona Centennial. Absent for a lot of the season while recovering from offseason knee surgical procedure, Walk-Green has returned to carry back all the little issues he does nicely — deal with, intercept passes, kick discipline targets, catch passes, kick PATs, return kickoffs and punts. Take him for granted at your own peril during the Division 1 playoffs.
• Koa Malau’ulu, St. John Bosco. The junior quarterback is going through tons of strain to keep away from interceptions and lead his staff to the Division 1 championship. He’s been a starter for three seasons. He’s in the same place that former quarterback DJ Uiagalelei was in making an attempt to ship a big-time win. Uiagalelei rallied the Braves from 34 factors down in his senior yr to beat Mater Dei in the ultimate.
• Caden Jones, Crean Lutheran. The senior quarterback has the power to run or cross, making him one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the Southland. It will be his judgment that can carry his staff far in Division 2.
• Michael Farinas, Chaparral. Maybe he’s underestimated because he’s a 5-foot-9 receiver, but Farinas is a big play ready to occur. On a staff that is instantly healthy, Farinas has 5 touchdowns speeding, 9 touchdowns receiving and one landing on a kickoff.

  

  Huntington Beach’s Dylin Bruce (2) makes use of his velocity to be a big-play weapon.

  (Jeremy Westerbeck)

• Dylin Bruce, Huntington Beach. Speed issues in playoff video games, and Bruce has it, with the power to flip short features into touchdowns. He has six touchdowns receiving, two touchdowns on interceptions, two on punt returns and one on kickoff return. In other phrases, he’s like Flowers for unbeaten Huntington Beach.
• Star Thomas III, Orange. With more than 3,600 yards passing for 38 touchdowns and virtually 500 yards speeding for eight touchdowns, the junior quarterback had the best common season of any quarterback in the Southland. If he retains it going in the playoffs for 10-0 Orange, they’ll construct a statue for him. He faces a robust opener at No. 1-seeded Chaparral in the Division 2 playoffs.
• Lucas Rhoa, Orange Lutheran. During video games, it’s robust to discover the affect a single offensive lineman can have, so take a second to watch Rhoa. He merely pushes people around, and with Rhoa’s skill to paved the way, the Lancers shocked top-seeded St. John Bosco last season in the Division 1 playoffs and must not be ignored even though there are accidents at the quarterback place.

  

  Garfield operating back Ceasar Reyes set a faculty file with 420 yards speeding and 4 touchdowns in win over South Gate

  (Nick Koza)

• Ceasar Reyes, Garfield. Given class aid by being put in City Section Division 1, Garfield intends to hop on Reyes’ back and see how far he takes them. He has rushed for close to 2,500 yards and 39 touchdowns while being rested at instances to save him for the playoffs. He loves ice baths to recuperate from bumps and bruises after hard-fought video games, so prepare for tons of ice to keep him going.
• Gatsbee Gumban, Nogales. Averaging 10 yards per carry with practically 2,000 yards speeding and 22 touchdowns, the senior operating back ought to be the participant to watch in the Southern Section Division 10 playoffs for the 10-0 Nobles.

  

  Brothers Trent and Grant Mosley last season for Santa Margarita.

  (Craig Weston)

• Grant Mosley, Santa Margarita. Yes, there’s another Mosley at Santa Margarita. This junior receiver didn’t play until the Eagles’ fifth sport because of an injury, but all indicators level to him back in soccer form and doing issues only gamers with a Mosley gene can do.
• Elija Harmon, Inglewood. At 6-3 and practically 300 kilos, the senior defensive lineman groups up with 6-3, 287-pound Myels Smith to kind an unbreakable brick wall on protection, which makes for a large first-round Division 2 opener between Inglewood and unbeaten Huntington Beach with standout quarterback Brady Edmunds.