October is here. That means league play every Friday night for the rest of the way.
It also nearly marks the midway point of the 10-week regular season in the CIF Southern and LA City Sections, which both end October 31. League play is where teams compete against rival programs for what will eventually decide their playoff fate.
In the CIF, the top 50% of a league earns an automatic playoff berth. For example, in a six-team league, the top three finishers are guaranteed a playoff berth, regardless of overall record. After that, teams are placed into their respective divisions and seeded based on where they’re ranked by computer rankings. The Southern Section uses HSratings.com. The City Section uses MaxPreps.com.
In league play, opponents know each other better. The wins and losses mean more. Big plays are magnified and blown plays stand out more. It’s also where players can campaign for big-time yearly awards. During nonleague play, a standout player might rise to be a Player of the Year candidate, but it’s during league play and the postseason where that same player can win the award.
Here is the Los Angeles Daily News’ mid-season yearly award watchlist for 2025
(NOTE: Players not named on lists below can win end-of-year awards and honors. These lists are not final candidate lists, only a watchlist of players who are likely to be considered for end-of-year awards based on early performances.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
DE, Richard Wesley, Sierra Canyon, Sr. — This 5-star recruit commands double and triple teams from the edge. He has five sacks and eight tackles for loss in six games, and is the backbone of the Sierra Canyon defense that has four shutouts this season and is the No. 2-ranked team in the state.
QB, Brady Bretthauer, Valencia, Sr. — The Vikings’ 5-1 campaign has been led by Bretthauer’s impact through the air and ground, passing for 924 yards and 13 touchdowns, and rushing for 415 yards and four touchdowns.
ATH, George Hastings, Agoura, Jr. — Hastings is one of the area’s best two-way standouts with a team-high 319 yards rushing with two touchdowns while leading the defense with 65 tackles. The Chargers are 4-2 and frontrunners to win the Tri-County League.
QB, Jacob Paisano, Hart, Sr. — Paisano is a stat stuffer. He has passed for 1,425 yards and 18 touchdowns (3 INTs) on 68% passing. He has also racked up 322 yards rushing and seven touchdowns in Hart’s 5-2 start.
QB, Diego Montes, Kennedy, Sr. — Montes seems to do it all. He has thrown for 1,062 yards and 11 touchdowns, and has run for 537 yards and 10 touchdowns this fall. He’s averaging 266 all-purpose yards per game.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
RB, Demanie Bell, Westlake, Sr. — Bell has rushed for 862 yards and 10 touchdowns in six games this season. He’s averaging an impressive 143 yards per game and 10.5 yards per carry.
QB, Wyatt Brown, Notre Dame, Sr. — Brown is one of the best dual-threat QBs in the area. He has thrown for nine touchdowns and run 14 touchdowns this season, while compiling 928 yards passing and 551 yards rushing.
ATH, Matix Frithsmith, Hart, Jr. — Frithsmith leads Hart in rushing (731) and receiving yards (650) with a total of 16 touchdowns (nine rushing) in seven games. He also returns kicks and averages 229 all-purpose yards per game.
RB, Jaxsen Stokes, Sierra Canyon, So. — Stokes has rushed for 437 yards and nine touchdowns on just 69 carries this fall. Sierra Canyon is 6-0 and ranked in the Top 10 nationally in every poll.
QB, Jackson Taylor, Thousand Oaks, Sr. — Taylor has thrown for 1,263 yards and 20 touchdowns (2 INTs) in six games and led the Lancers to a 5-1 record. He has thrown for three or more TDs in every game this season except one.
QB, Liam Pasten, Eagle Rock, Sr. — Pasten is one of the LA City Section’s best players. He has already thrown for 1,866 yards and 20 touchdowns (3 INTs). He’s also rushed for three touchdowns. He’s averaging 311 yards per game.
QB, Deshawn Laporte, Burbank, Jr. — Laporte has amassed a mind-boggling 2,340 yards and 29 touchdowns in six games and is averaging 390 yards per game.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
DL, James Moffat, Crespi, Sr. — Moffat is one of the reasons for Crespi’s turnaround. He has recorded 32 tackles, five for loss, 3.5 sacks and one caused fumble. The Celts are 6-0 with two shutouts.
DL, Mykhal Johnson, Sierra Canyon, Sr. — Johnson has 27 tackles this season with eight tackles for loss and four sacks. The standout lineman is a part of a monster tandem up front with Richie Wesley for the 6-0 Trailblazers.
DE, Josh Whitson, Hart, Sr. — Whitson leads the area in sacks with nine and a team-high 12.5 tackles for loss.
DB, Ben Burkin, Viewpoint, Jr. — Burkin leads the area in interceptions with five. He has also recorded 24 tackles, recovered two fumbles, blocked two punts, and has an interception return for a touchdown. He plays offense, too, and has six rushing touchdowns. Viewpoint is 6-0.
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
QB, Chase Curren, Crespi, So. — Curren will be the area’s best QB his junior and senior seasons. This year, he has thrown for 1,152 yards, 18 touchdowns and just four interceptions in 130 attempts through six games.
QB, Gavin Gray, Agoura, Sr. — Gray has thrown for 1,844 yards and 21 touchdowns in six games while completing 67% of his passes. He has thrown just two interceptions and is averaging 307 yards per game through the air.
QB, Michael Wynn, St. Genevieve, Sr. — Wynn has had a stat-stuffing 2025, throwing for 1,526 yards and 18 touchdowns (2 INTs) with two rushing touchdowns. The Valiants are 5-1.
QB, Jake Nuttall, Saugus, Sr. — Nuttall has thrown for 1,425 yards and 18 touchdowns (4 INTs) en route to the Centurions’ 5-2 start.
RB, Dash Paper, La Canada, Sr. — Paper has helped the Spartans to a 6-0 start thanks to his 780 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on 114 carries. He’s averaging 130 yards per game.
RB, Dean Rosales, Granada Hills Charter, Sr. — Rosales already has 1,022 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns on 122 carries through six games. He’s averaging 170 yards per game on the ground for coach Bucky Brooks.
ATH. Moy Odebunmi, Cleveland, Jr. — This standout junior has run for 782 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 130 yards per game.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
QB, Ford Green, Westlake — Green is 6-0 as a starter under center with 1,174 yards passing, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s completing 70% of his passes and averages 200 yards per game under new coach Rick Clausen.
WR, Riley Armstrong, Eastside — Armstrong is Eastside’s top wideout with 338 yards receiving and three touchdowns on 24 catches.
LB, Joaquin Paredes, Alemany — Paredes is a bright spot for the Alemany defense, collecting 30 tackles in the team’s first four games, including two tackles for loss and two sacks.
RB, Raul Berdon, El Camino Real — Berdon is ECR’s leading rusher with 321 yards and three touchdowns on 59 carries through six games.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jon Ellinghouse, Sierra Canyon — Sierra Canyon’s rise to a real Division 1 champion contender is led by Ellinghouse, who is the program’s only coach in its history. The only San Fernando Valley school to win a top-division CIF Southern Section title was Crespi in 1986.
Rick Clausen, Westlake — Clausen has turned around the Westlake program after being 0-10 last year. The Warriors are 6-0.
Brad Vonnahme, Crespi — Vonnahme has the Celts back to their old ways: winning. Crespi is 6-0 and is eyeing a deep playoff run.
Evan Yabu, Notre Dame — Through six games, Notre Dame has shown it can be a top-flight Mission League team in 2025.