Football preview 2008: Trinity League

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Anaheim Servite could be ready to make another run at the Trinity League football championship in 2008 even though the Friars lose their high-profiled players in D.J. Shoemate and Matt Kalil to USC.

Coach Troy Thomas, pictured, said he has nine starters returning on defense and is thrilled with the young players coming up from a championship sophomore team and one-loss freshman team. He singled out junior receiver/running back Christopher Urell as a potential standout next season.

Mater Dei starts out as the favorite because the Monarchs are going to build around All-American quarterback Matt Barkley. But it’s going to take time to replace all the outstanding receivers graduating. And the Monarchs need to run the ball more effectively next season.

Orange Lutheran can be successful building a running attack around the exciting Exavier Edwards, a sophomore who showed signs of big-play ability.

Santa Margarita had the best freshman team in the league, going unbeaten, but how many teams win varsity championships with sophomores?

JSerra and St. John Bosco both should be improved. In other words, no one is going unbeaten in the Trinity League in 2008. I can’t wait for summer passing tournaments to arrive to see the new crop of young players ready to make an impact.

-- Eric Sondheimer

-- Image by Karen Tapia-Anderson/Los Angeles Times