WAC Football Preview: Davis big three returns; local schools chase Lathrop for No. 1

With its starting quarterback, second-leading rusher, third-best receiver and a player who could throw his name into the conversation as the Western Athletic League’s most disruptive pass rusher by the end of the season, Davis High School could make noise in 2025. The Spartans have 11 returners, including some starters and some who earned a few snaps last season looking to step into expanded roles.

The returning quarterback, Caleb Zaragoza, passed for nearly 1,300 yards and threw 14 touchdown passes. Izmael Sanchez is part of a group of siblings who continue to produce for Davis football. He was second on the team in rushing yards and carries. He also finished second on the team in tackles. Lincoln Brooks, last year’s third-best pass catcher, also added 44 tackles and a team-high eight tackles for loss and four sacks. Zane Gerbo could be the team’s best defensive lineman. He suffered an injury early last season and played in just four games. He already holds offers from Nevada and Washington State and is a three-star recruit.

The Spartans finished in a three-way tie for third in the WAC standings but missed out on the playoffs when Johansen advanced in Division III, the same division Davis is in, and Livingston advanced in D-V. To get to the league title, they’ll have to go through the defending champion, Lathrop. The Lathrop Spartans went a perfect 7-0 against WAC opponents and allowed just 69 points in league play.

Davis last season won three of its last five games to give itself a chance at a postseason berth, but the seeding did not go their way. Now more than ever, head coach Trevor Mew says the Spartans are going to “control what they can control” and enter every game with energy and effort.

Beyer hopes to be a player in league play

The Patriots earned a league win in 2024 for the second straight season, showing promise for Mike Young, who is entering his fifth season as head coach. Their quarterback this season is new to the position, but not new to varsity football. After the graduation of both senior quarterbacks Jacob Towe, who played safety last season, shifts to offense to be the signal caller. Colton Shuckman and Rowan Carmack will anchor the line, and John Mustapha will go from linebacker to a two-way linebacker/running back. Beyer could also call on the talents of the school’s Division I basketball prospect, 6-foot-5 forward Curtis Harmon, who attended 7-on-7 events and summer workouts and practices. A pair of transfers, Skyler Red and Aiden Rotan could also have an impact on the Patriots’ success.

Beyer begins the hunt for its first season with more than two wins since going 7-4 in 2019. There were a couple of bright spots in 2024 when they won their second game of the season against West in a narrow contest. After going three weeks without a win, they earned their WAC victory, beating Central Valley 48-13 thanks to four rushing touchdowns by then-senior Eli Lopez. About 12 players from last year’s team are back this season, looking to improve on their overall and league win totals.

Johansen looks to build off 2024 playoff appearance

The Vikings’ 2024 playoff appearance can be the building block the program needs. Of their 16 returns, 14 started last season, including a handful of first and second team all-league players. Gabriel Ibanez returns after a First Team All-WAC selection at linebacker. He also played in spots on offense, tallying 107 yards on 14 carries. Head coach Rod Smith Sr. expects him to have more of a two-way impact at linebacker and receiver. Jeydan Saing is coming off a standout sophomore campaign where he was one of the Vikings’ top defenders en route to a second team all-league selection at safety. He’s back for his junior season better, faster, stronger and smarter and will also continue to play wide receiver after finishing second on the team in catches and receiving yards. Camren Reason and Roman Uili man the offensive and defensive lines and Owen Barraza is another two-way returner.

Johansen made a playoff push at the end of last season, playing some of its best football in the final five weeks, when it mattered most. Running back Ezekiel Rodriguez played the last six games and rushed for 660 yards, according to Smith, and linebacker Ben Udoffia made a late impact defensively, leading to three wins in their final five regular season games.

Now they build. There will be 45 Vikings in uniform come Week 1, the most in several years, Smith said. Smith’s offense is always run-first, but last season, they doubled their pass attempts with quarterback Anthony Torres. With Torres back for his senior season, Smith says to expect more pass plays from Johansen this season.

Can Central Valley bounce back?

Central Valley is hungry for a bounceback after earning one overall win and going winless against WAC opponents in 2024. The Hawks will be a young team with a splash of experience in the form of about 15 returners.

Eric Mendoza came on towards the end of 2024 at running back. Central Valley is hoping to see him get off to a good start and improve on the team highs in carries, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns he posted last season. Will Montez started every game on the offensive line last season as a junior. The offensive tackle returns after an improved offseason. The 2025 season will be one of new adventures for Matthew Ontiveros. After playing a key role last season, thanks to his versatility, he will play “a little bit of everything” according to Derrick Goblirsch, the Hawks’ coach entering his sixth season. Newcomer Damian Jackson will play two key positions as a junior, lining up in the offensive backfield at running back and manning the middle of the defense at linebacker.

Can Ceres claim the league title?

Despite seven regular season wins, a second place WAC finish and a four-game win streak to end the regular season, Ceres did not qualify for the 2024 Division IV playoffs. A disappointment last season can only be used as motivation this year. The Bulldogs, who went 7-3 last season, return seven players from their senior-heavy group. They won in every way in 2024. Their first two wins came in shutouts against Delhi and Buhach Colony. Then they picked up their first league win with a narrow 25-20 win over Johansen. They won a 41-35 shootout over Davis and allowed just 10 total points in their final three wins of the regular season.

This season, Nathaniel Macias will have a big say in how things go for Ceres. The senior plays offense, defense and special teams and will be asked to play a much bigger role than last season. Their four leading tacklers in 2024 were seniors, meaning Macias is the team’s only returner with more than 35 takedowns. A safety/receiver two-way player, he is looking to improve on a strong defensive season where he led the team in interceptions with three, recovered a pair of fumbles and broke up six passes. He also returned two punts for touchdowns last season. He starred on defense and special teams last year but will likely have a larger offensive role in 2025.

Other WAC notes

After finishing atop the WAC standings last season, Lathrop’s leading rusher Pablo Pena returns. He carried the ball 182 times for over 1,000 yards and scored 23 rush touchdowns in 2024.

Pena also recorded 100 total tackles and 14 tackles for loss in 2024

Pacheco’s two leading rushers were juniors in 2024. Aidan Pikas and Jacob Sanchez combined for 153 carriers, 906 yards and four touchdowns.

Pacheco’s four leading tacklers from last season graduated but last season, junior Robert Crawford tallied 34 tackles and a team-high 10 tackles for loss.

Livingston qualified for the postseason last year in its first year in the WAC.

The Wolves won four league games after realignment moved them from the TVL. They beat Ceres, Beyer, Central Valley and Pacheco.

Pacheco vs Livingston might have been the game of the year in the league. Livingston won 13-7 in double overtime.

Livingston takes on section and state champion Sonora, which returns all of its rushing attack from 2024, in Week 2 this season.

Livingston looks to replace the majority of its rushing attack after its three top rushers graduated. All recorded at least 100 rushing yards and combined for at least nine touchdowns.

WAC teams will play three non-league games before their first league contest. League play beings Sept. 19.

NEW: MODESTO BEE ANONYMOUS COACHES POLL

The Bee introduces its anonymous preseason high school football coach’s poll for the 2025 season. In leagues with four or more schools in The Bee’s coverage area, coaches were asked to vote on how they think the league standings will play out. They listed their order and we tallied the results from seven of the eight coaches. Because it is an eight-school league, if a WAC coach voted a team to finish in first place, that school received eight points, second place received seven and so on with the last team on each coach’s list receiving one point. We listed the total points based on how each coach voted and here’s how it came out:

1. Lathrop (54 points)

2. Davis (44)

3. Johansen (38)

4. Ceres (30)

5. Livingston (30)

6. Pacheco (24)

7. Central Valley (21)

8. Beyer (11)

This story was originally published August 15, 2025 at 11:32 AM.

Quinton Hamilton

The Modesto Bee

Quinton Hamilton covers high school sports for The Modesto Bee. He is a Southern California native and received his bachelor’s degree from Pacific Union College and a master’s in journalism from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Quinton has worked at the Record-Journal in Meriden and helped on projects at Hearst Connecticut.