Nation's No. 3 team Centennial, Washington's best at 2015 Honor Bowl

More than 500 high school football players and eight superb teams will converge at Oceanside High School this weekend to partake in a gridiron festival.

Some of the best talent on the West Coast, including the nation's No. 3 team Centennial (Corona, Calif.) and Washington's top-ranked team Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.), will display all the best skills and athletic ability that prep football has to offer.

That includes tackling, blocking, route-running, passing, rushing and, of course, scoring touchdowns.

But the organizers of the third annual Honor Bowl, sponsored by the Honor Group, pronounce that while the football is first rate, "It's more than just a football game."

Founder and organizer Mark Soto is unwavering in his pursuit to pay tribute to military heroes and raise funds to benefit military veterans.

See foundation of the Honor Bowl and tribute to Soto here

Considering that five of the eight teams — Centennial, host Oceanside (Calif.), Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), Oaks Christian (Westlake Village) and Serra (Gardena — are repeat participants shows its commitment to the cause as well.

A sixth repeat team, Del Oro (Loomis), will host a Northern California version of the Honor Bowl next week against Bellarmine College Prep (San Jose).

"I have such respect for (Soto) and what the event is all about," Serra coach Scott Altenberg told us last season. "I told him whoever you want us to play or whatever you want, we just want in."

Last year, Serra got Bellevue (Wash.), then riding a 54-game win streak. With a wicked Wing-T offense, Bellevue rolled then the nation's No. 17-ranked team 31-14.

No shame there. This year, Soto matched up the Cavaliers with perhaps the nation's most prolific offense in Centennial, which piled up a wild 52-49 win here last year against Orange Lutheran.

Centennial, which opened with a 49-13 home win over East (Salt Lake, Utah) last week, is led by a dangerous triangle of offensive standouts, quarterback Anthony Catalano, running back J.J. Taylor and receiver Javon Mckinley.

Last week, the team's other wideout Cameron Jackson got into the act with three catches for 88 yards and two scores. McKinley turned his only reception into a 62-yard score.

Serra, which opened last week with a 41-15 win over Lakewood, is led by the state's No. 1 recruit, defensive end Oluwole Betiku (6-4, 240), four-star defensive backs Brandon Burton (6-2, 195) and Chris Pollard (6-1, 180) and four-star all-around athlete Khalil Tate (6-2, 203). Betiku is headed to UCLA, Pollard is going to USC and Tate to Arizona.

Throw in San Jose State-bound linebacker Blake Walls, athletic quarterback Khalil Tate and receiver Isaiah Diego-Williams, and it's amazing that Serra is considered the underdog in this one.

Then again, McKinley is the state's No. 19 recruit and teammates, safety Chacho Ulloa (6-0, 190), tackle Daniel Juarez (6-5, 270), and cornerbacks Kentrell Love (6-2, 175) and Camyrn Bynum are all top 80 California recruits, according to 247Sports. This should be a slugfest.

The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday.

Other games

5 p.m. Friday
Colony (Ontario) (1-0) vs. Alemany (Mission Hills) (1-0)
Alemany, led by 3-star receiver Jarrin Pierce, is ranked 22nd in the state and Colony is No. 54.

8 p.m. Friday
Oceanside (1-0) vs. Eastside Catholic (1-0)
Brandon Wellington, a 6-foot, 215-pound safety is Washington's No. 3 recruit. The four-star senior has committed to Washington. Teammate Matt Laris (6-4, 210) is wide receiver and No. 8 recruit in the state headed to Cal and 6-3, 219-pound quarterback Harley Kirsch (No. 19 recruit in Washington) is headed to Cornell. Oceanside is ranked 33rd in California.

4 p.m. Saturday
Cathedral Catholic (0-1) versus Oaks Christian (1-0)
Michael Pittman (6-4, 205), a four-star receiver headed to USC, leads Oaks Christian, which lost last year 28-21 to Cathedral Catholic. Oaks Christian is ranked No. 25 in the state and Cathedral Catholic No. 48.