In short: Capistrano Valley Cougars high school football (Mission Viejo, CA), 2026 season: 8-3 in the Bravo League. Last game: L 19-20 vs Notre Dame (SO) on November 6, 2026. Schedule and results, player season stats, stat leaders, unit grades, ScorePirate ranking and the game-by-game log.
The biggest worry in Capistrano Valley's season has been the direction of its ball security. Capistrano Valley committed 0.5 giveaways per game over its first 6 games (6-0), #13 in CIF-SS in that timeframe. Over the stretch of 5 games that followed (2-3), the Cougars have committed 1.4 giveaways per game, a 180% rise, #217 in CIF-SS in that window. The schedule has a lot to do with it: Capistrano Valley's last 5 opponents have averaged 1.6 per game, a #116 defense in CIF-SS on the season, against 1.2 per game, #217 for the first 6. Measured against those opponents' norms (1.6 per game), Capistrano Valley turned it over 13% less than those defenses usually force. By that measure, the early pace looks more like the outlier than the recent one. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 5 opponents average a rating that would rank #20 in CIF-SS, well above the first 6 (#87), so the dip has come against better teams overall. On the season, Capistrano Valley ranks #95 in CIF-SS in giveaways.
The Cougars averaged 44.0 points per game over their first 6 games (6-0), #16 in CIF-SS during that time. Few teams started faster in this department, and few have cooled off as sharply since. Over the stretch of 5 games that followed (2-3), Capistrano Valley has averaged 19.8 points per game, a 55% drop, #260 in CIF-SS through those games. The schedule has a lot to do with it: Capistrano Valley's last 5 opponents have averaged 19.7 points per game, a #125 scoring defense in CIF-SS on the season, against 23.9 points per game, #198 for the first 6. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 5 opponents average a rating that would rank #20 in CIF-SS, well above the first 6 (#87), so the dip has come against better teams overall. On the season, the Cougars rank #80 in CIF-SS in scoring.
Capistrano Valley's defense from the opening weeks has gone missing since. Capistrano Valley allowed 14.0 points per game over its first 5 games (5-0), #68 in CIF-SS through that stretch. In the 6 games since that hot start (3-3), the Cougars have allowed 21.0 points per game, a 50% rise, #133 in CIF-SS over that stretch. The schedule has a lot to do with it: Capistrano Valley's last 6 opponents have averaged 29.6 points per game, a #133 offense in CIF-SS on the season, against 27.0 points per game, #164 for the first 5. Measured against those opponents' norms (29.6 points per game), Capistrano Valley held those offenses 29% below what they usually score. By that measure, the early pace looks more like the outlier than the recent one. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 6 opponents average a rating that would rank #21 in CIF-SS, well above the first 5 (#101), so the dip has come against better teams overall. On the season, Capistrano Valley ranks #89 in CIF-SS in scoring defense.
Something changed for Capistrano Valley's ground game after its first 5 games. The Cougars averaged 6.6 yards per carry (964 yards on 147 rushes) over their first 5 games (5-0), #113 in CIF-SS within that period. In the 6 games since that hot start (3-3), Capistrano Valley has averaged 4.0 yards per carry (788 yards on 197 rushes), a 39% drop, #308 in CIF-SS across those games. The schedule has a lot to do with it: Capistrano Valley's last 6 opponents have averaged 4.6 yards per carry, a #78 run defense in CIF-SS on the season, against 5.6 yards per carry, #189 for the first 5. Measured against those opponents' norms (4.6 yards per carry), Capistrano Valley ran for 13% less per carry than those run defenses usually allow. The level of competition matters too: in ScorePirate's SP Strength Index, the last 6 opponents average a rating that would rank #21 in CIF-SS, well above the first 5 (#101), so the dip has come against better teams overall. On the season, the Cougars rank #252 in CIF-SS in rushing.
One of Capistrano Valley's most reliable areas lately has been its pass defense. Capistrano Valley allowed 10.1 yards per pass attempt (704 yards on 70 attempts) over its first 4 games (4-0), #336 in CIF-SS during those games. In the 7 games since that slow start (4-3), the Cougars have allowed 6.1 yards per pass attempt (880 yards on 145 attempts), a 40% drop, #54 in CIF-SS during that period. The schedule deserves some of the credit: Capistrano Valley's last 7 opponents have averaged 8.5 yards per attempt, a #129 passing attack in CIF-SS on the season, against 9.7 yards per attempt, #68 for the first 4. Measured against those opponents' norms (8.5 yards per attempt), Capistrano Valley held those passing attacks 29% below their usual yards per attempt. On the season, Capistrano Valley ranks #151 in CIF-SS in pass defense.
TIDBITS (10 found)
• Club Capistrano Valley has lost 2 straight, and a loss would make it 3 in a row. The last time they lost 3 or more in a row was 2023, a run of 3.
• Club Capistrano Valley is 47-2 all time when holding the opponent under 10 points. Capistrano Valley's last loss when holding the opponent under 10 points was October 12, 2007 against Dana Hills (T, 0-0).
• Club Capistrano Valley has gone 6 straight games being held under 7.0 yards per play (October 2, 2026 through November 6, 2026), going 3-3 over that stretch, the program's longest such streak since 2016 (8 games).
• Club Capistrano Valley has gone 4 straight games forcing 1+ turnover (October 16, 2026 through November 6, 2026), going 2-2 over that stretch, the program's longest such streak since 2026 (12 games).
• Player Talon Spencer has gone 9 straight games throwing a touchdown pass, the longest such streak of his career.
• Player Talon Spencer has gone 6 straight games running for a touchdown, the longest such streak of his career.
• Player Cash Perry has 48 tackles over his last 4 games (12.0 a game, October 16, 2026 through November 6, 2026) -- his most in a 4-game stretch on record.
• Player Cade Epstein has 32 tackles over his last 3 games (10.7 a game, October 23, 2026 through November 6, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch on record.
• Player Chris Fields has 24 tackles over his last 3 games (8.0 a game, October 23, 2026 through November 6, 2026) -- his most in a 3-game stretch on record.
• Player Zadyn Hall has gone 2 straight games running for a touchdown, the 2nd-longest such streak of his career. He also had a career-best streak of 4 straight games running for a touchdown, during the 2026 season.
MILESTONE WATCH
Capistrano Valley
Brady Hassett needs 2 tackles for 75 (averaging 6.6 a game)
Cash Perry needs 8 tackles for 125 (averaging 10.6 a game)
Jolan Gonzalez needs 6 tackles for 75 (averaging 6.3 a game)
Mauricio Linares needs 0 sacks for 5 (averaging 0.4 a game)
Zadyn Hall needs 1 rushing touchdown for 10 (averaging 0.8 a game)
Every player with a stat on file, listed only where he has one. Open the arrow beside a name for his game-by-game line. Stats through the Nov 6 game; last updated Nov 11; roster and numbers checked Sep 10.
Click a column heading to sort. MIN hides players below that many attempts.
2 CIF-SS titles · 1 CIF-SS runner-up finish · 1 CIF-SS Player of the Year
YEAR
HONOR
2017
CIF-SS Defensive Player of the Year (Division 4): ZACH RITNER
2016
CIF-SS Division 5 RUNNER-UP (lost to Calabasas 35-14)
1990
CIF-SS Div. II CHAMPION (def. Paramount 17-15)
1980
CIF-SS Central CHAMPION (def. Esperanza 11-0)
Section and state results and Players of the Year: CIF-SS Record Book. League finishes judged from league schedules on file (2022-2025 seasons); earlier league titles are not on file.
WEEK WRAP-UP
Capistrano Valley fell to Notre Dame (SO) 19-20 at home on Friday, November 6, its 2nd straight loss. Capistrano Valley ran for 244 yards against 73 passing, and the defense turned a 239-yard night for Notre Dame (SO) into 20 points.
Zadyn Hall ran 19 times for 127 yards and a touchdown. Matt Paikoff completed 6 of 7 for 63 yards and a touchdown and ran 9 times for 48 yards and a touchdown. Izaiah Bennett caught 2 passes for 22 yards and a touchdown and added 6 tackles on defense.
For Notre Dame (SO), West Dunton completed 18 of 27 for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns; Tahj Skinner ran 2 times for -3 yards, caught 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown and added 8 tackles on defense. The Notre Dame (SO) ground game managed just 52 yards.
Capistrano Valley is 8-3, #19 CIF-Southern Section.
1 game(s) beyond a normal 10-game regular season are on file, confirming a postseason appearance -- but this library has no playoff-round/bracket source yet, so the exact round reached or final result is not available.
CV — 2026 OVERALL AVERAGES
SPLIT
GP
PPG
OPP PPG
YPG
OPP YPG
PLAYS/G
OPP PLAYS/G
OVERALL
11
33.0
17.8
337.8
296.9
56.0
49.2
HOME
6
30.0
20.8
356.5
328.0
62.0
52.0
ROAD
5
36.6
14.2
315.4
234.7
48.8
43.7
PPG/OPP PPG use every played game on file. YPG/PLAYS-PER-GAME columns only ever come from games with a full box score on file, which can be a smaller sample than GP -- see the coverage note below when that's the case for this team.
Averages use only games with that number on file (defense 9/11, sacks allowed 10/11 games). SACKS ALW comes from the opponent's box score; TO FORCED is takeaways; TO MAR is takeaways minus giveaways, and its bottom cell is the season total. Dashes mean not on file.
UNIT INDEX
Pass Offense: grade 75.3/100 (+45 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Offense: grade 61.3/100 (+14 yds/gm vs average)
Pass Defense: grade 86.8/100 (-64 yds/gm vs average)
Rush Defense: grade 71.2/100 (-46 yds/gm vs average)
Unit grades: 0-100 league percentile, adjusted for the opponents faced.
LAST YEAR
CV finished 2025 at 8-3. Made the playoffs (1 postseason game(s) on file; exact round/result not available). Notable win: 41-21 over BARSTOW (BARSTOW finished 80% that season). Toughest loss: 20-35 to TUSTIN (15-point margin).
CV's defense has averaged 90.0 rush yards per game over their last 3 games. Their 30-game average is 161.0 rush yards per game. (-44%)
CV's defense has averaged 2.7 takeaways per game over their last 3 games. Their 33-game average is 2.0 takeaways per game. (+35%)
CV's defense has averaged 4.0 YPC over their last 3 games. Their 30-game average is 5.3 YPC. (-25%)
CV's defense has averaged 6.0 YPA over their last 7 games. Their 30-game average is 7.7 YPA. (-22%)
CV's defense has averaged 272.8 total yards per game over their last 7 games. Their 30-game average is 345.1 total yards per game. (-21%)
CV's defense has averaged 146.7 pass yards per game over their last 7 games. Their 30-game average is 184.1 pass yards per game. (-20%)
(moved to the Appendix, Data Export 1, to keep this section shorter -- the full spreadsheet-paste table is there unchanged)
APPENDIX
Full-length explanations and full-size data exports for the shortened notes and relocated tables referenced throughout this report, numbered in the order their pointers appear above.
Explanatory Notes
Note 1 -- MOST IMPORTANT NUMBERS -- how a number is scored
Every split this report computes is scored on how strong the number is and how much it sets this team apart from its opponent and the rest of the field, and the top 5 per team are listed. A condition needs at least 8 occurrences to count.
Full Data Exports
Data Export 1 -- TRENDS — TAB-SEPARATED (10 columns)
Where CAPISTRANO VALLEY sits among 399 section teams on the two Unit Index composites -- Offense Grade 70.4, Defense Grade 68.0.
POINTS / GAME: CAPISTRANO VALLEY VS THE SECTION
CAPISTRANO VALLEY ranks #26 of 399 section teams in points per game (45.5) -- a strength worth a look.
CAPISTRANO VALLEY: SP STRENGTH INDEX BY SEASON
The program's index across 5 seasons on file -- 9.7 in 2022 to 25.1 in 2026.
These graphs were chosen by the program from this season's most notable numbers. Build your own -- any stat against any other, for any mix of teams, seasons or players, with a JPEG download -- in the Graph Builder.
