California high school football: MaxPreps Top 25 San Diego Section preseason computer rankings

To say that it's early would be profoundly inaccurate.

But to know exactly where California high school football teams stand and how they will project heading into the 2020-21 season is a true guessing game. More so than previous seasons.

After the coronavirus and tough state guidelines delayed the season until now, practice for most teams just began and many players have opted out to either focus on other sports or next season. Besides that, conditioning and preparation to this point has been drastically different.

With that precursor, here is our best shot at a Top 25 preseason team list for the San Diego Section. In fact, we're going to have our computer give it a stab.

Defending section champions are Open Division: Helix; Oceanside (Division 1), El Camino (D2), La Jolla (D3), Serra-San Diego (D4), Francis Parker (D5) and Foothills Christian (D6).  These teams won't defend the titles until the fall considering no playoffs are scheduled in the spring. 

Play begins as early as March 12, seasons range from four to six games and there will be no postseason. Look for a section-by-section glance at the top teams and players throughout the next two weeks. Thursday: The Sac-Joaquin Section.  

MaxPreps Top 25 San Diego Section football rankings 1. Helix (La Mesa), 11-2 (2019)

It would have been more than nice to get the nation's most productive 2019 quarterback Tyler Buchner (6,084 yards, 81 touchdowns) for a season, but he enrolled early to Notre Dame. Having San Diego State-bound cornerback Jaiden Brown patrolling secondary will be nice.

With five players on SDS's Top 25 players to watch list, the Hornets look like the team to beat.

2,000-yard rusher Kavika Tua should lead the charge.

Aidan Sayin returns at quarterback after throwing for 2,349 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Junior defensive end Jaxson Moi is one of the best in the state.

Allowed just 131 points in 2019.

Will greatly miss the play of Byron Cardwell, one of the state's top running backs who transferred to Morse.

One of the state's top cornerbacks, senior Elisha Lloyd is headed to Utah.

The Wildcats persevered all the way to the state finals in 2019.

After all the work he did advocating for youth sports in advocating, coach Ron Gladnick might have his best teams in years. Four of his players are on the MaxPreps 25 players to watch list. Another, Griffin Grant, might be the most intriguing player of all.

With all-around talent Max Smith and junior quarterback Jackson Stratton back, the Vikings should hit the ground running.

The Knights already knew Buchner was gone — he transferred to Helix for his senior season — and now start largely from scratch.

Even with quarterback Travis Bennett returning, the Panthers love to run the ball, as shown in 2019 with an astounding 4,529 rushing yards and 48 rush touchdowns.

Gone is 2,000-yard rusher Keontae Springs, but quarterback Jaylen Thomas returns to run the offense.

Coach Sean Sovacool returns to lead the Mavericks.

With the return of starting quarterback Luke Durkin (2,194 yards, 20 touchdowns) and leading rusher Nicholas Gardinera (1,783 yards, 24 touchdowns), the Falcons might be a Top 10 team.

Leading tackler Christian Aguilar, a 6-1, 215-pound junior linebacker, returns for the Titans.

Promising junior quarterback Emmett Brown returns after throwing for 1,832 yards and 14 touchdowns, while rushing for nine more.

The Conquistadors return their two top running backs, Dustan Ellison and Brevin Lingao, who combined for more than 2,220 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2019.

Justus Mccomb returns at quarterback after throwing for 2,691 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior.

The Crusaders return the nation's top-rated linebacker from the class of 2023 in sophomore Tre Edwards (6-1, 220).

Robert Tucker not only led the team in rushing last season at 1,075 with 10 touchdowns, but he led the Foothillers in receiving yards as well with 905 and 10 more scores.

Senior quarterback Gabe Krug did it all for Patriots last season with 1,338 passing yards and 931 rushing yards. He combined on 20 touchdowns.

Kai Robinson led the team in tackles and interceptions last season.

The Golden Eagles won nine games last season largely due to its defense which recorded four shutouts while allowing just 170 points.