Mike Moon didn’t want to hear it.
Atop the dais at Marmonte League media day earlier this month, the Pacifica High football coach brushed aside the praise being heaped upon his defending champions.
“Rat poison,” Moon called it.
But the Tritons return most of the weapons from a CIF-Southern Section Division 3 championship team that went 15-1 and swept through the Northern Area’s top league by an average of 13.2 points per game.
The biggest question in the Marmonte League entering the 2026 season isn’t which team is the favorite.
It’s which team is capable of knocking off the Tritons?
Is it St. Bonaventure, which led at Pacifica last October, before David Carranza’s game-winning field goal on the game’s final snap?
“I think we should be the favorite,” argued St. Bonaventure quarterback Jaxson Carper. “This roster is no joke.”
Is it Bishop Diego, which lead Pacifica by double digits in the regular-season finale before succumbing to a Triton flurry in the second half?
Is it Simi Valley, which started the league’s current run of public-school success by winning the league title in 2024?
Simi Valley coach Jim Benkert, who enters the season within range of No. 6 on the state’s all-time list for coaching wins, understands what it takes to succeed in the Marmonte League.
“You have to play every down,” Benkert said. “You have to play every game. You have to be great in every facet of your game. Because if you’re not, you’re going to get beat.
"Everyone has players. .… It’s why we coach. We want to coach at the highest level. Every player in here wants to play at the highest level. It’s what we do. We want to play big-time football.”
Oaks Christian opens a new era under first-year coach Rudy Carlton.
“I’ve known the Mamonte League since 2008, when I was recruiting it as a (graduate assistant)” Carlton said. “I respect the athletes, the coaches. I’m so thrilled to be here.”
Although the Lions return just 25 players from last season’s varsity roster, the former Azusa Pacific University quarterback and head coach has loved how much growth he’s seen in his first months in charge.
“I said from Day 1, I’m going all in,” Carlton. “That’s the only way this transition is going to be great.”
As a result of the Northern Area releauging process for the 2026-27 seasons, Newbury Park has replaced Camarillo.
The last time the Panthers were in the Marmonte, they were a combined 0-8 in league play in 2019 and 2020.
Although Darrien Johnson, who played nearly every skill position on the field as a sophomore, is the type of player who can make Newbury Park a dangerous opponent any Friday night.
With tongue firmly in cheek, Newbury Park head coach Joe Smigiel was quick to volunteer for the league’s underdog role.
“We’re back to being big-time underdogs,” Smigiel said. “We’re just kind of survival mode trying to get through this year.”
Top returning players
- Taylor Lee, Pacifica: The league’s reigning co-Most Valuable Player set the county record for TD passes in a season (53) as a junior.
- Isaiah Phelps, Pacifica: The league’s reigning co-Most Valuable Player led the state in tackles (232) as a junior.
- Jason Homan, St. Bonaventure: The league's reigning Linebacker of the Year had 150 tackles as a junior.
- Miguel Ledezma, Simi Valley: The 6-foot-3, 310-pound guard is a three-year starter.
- Caleb Pasina, St. Bonaventure: The 6-foot-4, 290-pound tackle is a singular force.
- Anthony Jacobs, Pacifica: The 5-foot-10 speedster caught 14 TD passes as a junior, and he'll play some defense this season.
- Will Jones, Pacifica: The 6-foot-2 multisport star is a big, fast target.
- Alijah Royster, Pacifica: Nobody in the county brings more TDs (41) into the season.
- Tony Dargan, St. Bonaventure: The fastest freshman in county history is now a sophomore.
- Alifeleti Tuihalamaka, Oaks Christian: With Matt Perez and Izak Simpson graduated, the USC commit is now the top defensive lineman in the area.
- Remi Boykin, Bishop Diego: A returning first-time all-league selection at safety.
- Phillip Wilson III, Pacifica: After flirting with retirement, the playmaking linebacker is back for a senior season.
- Sammy Boeddeker, Bishop Diego: A returning first-time all-league selection at linebacker.
- Darrien Johnson, Newbury Park: The electric playmaker, a first-team All-Conejo Coast League selection as a sophomore, can score on any snap.
Newcomers to watch
- Ke’andre Lee, St. Bonaventure: The running back and linebacker will impact the game on both sides of the ball.
- Antonio Spann, St. Bonaventure: The transfer receiver will add more speed to the Seraphs attack.
- Silas Petty, St. Bonaventure: The sophomore receiver, who led Rio Mesa in receptions as a freshman, will add even more depth after his sit-out period elapses.
- Tadd Mitchell, Pacifica: The 6-foot-2 senior cornerback from Carlsbad High gives Pacifica another difference-maker in the secondary.
- Fifita Apisai, Oaks Christian: The 6-foot-6, 280-pound junior tackle from Mountain View-St. Francis will add a bookend tackle to the Oaks Christian offensive line after his sit-out period.
- I'Zhon Pugh, Oaks Christian: One of five freshman who will boost Oaks Christian's rebuild on the varsity.
- Gunnar Schmidt, Simi Valley: The 6-foot-7 basketball player and golfer has opened eyes since joining Simi Valley as a receiver.
- Aiden Tasci, Newbury Park: The senior quarterback, a transfer from Alemany, takes over the starting role at QB High.
Biggest departures
- Brady Smigiel, Newbury Park: It doesn’t get any bigger than Ventura County’s all-time leading passer, who is now a freshman at Michigan.
- Deshonne Redeaux, Oaks Christian: The electric runner, now at USC, went from zero to 6 points in a flash.
- Matthew Perez, St. Bonaventure: Linemen can rest easy knowing the county's most dominant defender is now at Nevada-Reno.
- Izak Simpson, Simi Valley: Or was Simpson the county's most dominant defender the past three years? The argument can continue on forever.
- Davon Benjamin, Oaks Christian: The dynamic safety is now at Oregon.
Predicted order of finish
- 1. Pacifica: The Tritons' special Class of 2027 has one last ride left.
- 2. St. Bonaventure: The Seraphs have already shown they can push Pacifica to the final whistle.
- 3. Simi Valley: The Pioneers can compete, if they can stay healthy.
- 4. Bishop Diego: The Cardinals graduated the top five scorers and top seven yardage gainers.
- 5. Oaks Christian: The new era starts with a rebuild.
- 6. Newbury Park: Darrien Johnson can lift the Panthers to a new level.
Joe Curley covers football for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads, Facebook, Bluesky and TikTok.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: What you need to know about Marmonte League football in 2026