The curtain has come down on the 2025 high school football season, and with it, the first year of Cal’s Friday Night Lights spotlight comes to a close. The final chapter featured two future Golden Bears playing in the biggest games of the California prep calendar - the Division I-A and Open Division CIF State Championship Games. While the high school lights dim, the college stage is still lit, with Cal prepping for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl in a way that’s both meaningful and personal for their players from the islands.
Before we dive into the on-field action, let’s talk about Cal’s unique approach to bowl prep. Rather than sticking to the usual practice routine, the Bears are taking the field at the high schools that helped mold their Hawaiian players.
Kahuku High, Saint Louis School, and Campbell High are all hosting Cal’s practices - a full-circle moment for players like Aiden Manutai, LeBron Williams, Stanley Saole-McKenzie, and Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. It’s a nod to their roots, and a reminder that for many of these athletes, football has always been about community.
EJ Morgan Wraps Up a Title Run
Let’s start in the Division I-A State Championship, where Central East (Fresno) WR and Cal signee EJ Morgan helped the Bengals capture their second-ever state title. Head coach Kyle Biggs has built a powerhouse in the Central Section, and this year’s 42-28 win over Pacifica only adds to his growing legacy - five section titles in eight years and a 107-21 record over the last decade is no small feat.
Morgan didn’t light up the stat sheet - just two catches for 40 yards - but one of those grabs turned heads. In the fourth quarter, Morgan made a play that showcased his athleticism and body control, flashing the kind of upside that has Cal fans excited about what’s coming to Berkeley. He may not have been the focal point of the offense that night, but the flashes were there - and sometimes, that’s all you need to see.
Morgan will finish out his senior year at Central East, where he’s also a standout on the track team. He’s expected to join the Bears for summer workouts ahead of the 2026 season.
Nemyah Telona Battles in the Open Division
In the Open Division title game, it was a tougher night for De La Salle and future Cal defensive lineman Nemyah Telona. The Spartans ran into a buzzsaw in Santa Margarita Catholic, led by head coach - and former Heisman winner - Carson Palmer. The Eagles were dominant from start to finish, handing De La Salle a 47-13 loss and extending the Spartans’ CIF title game drought to eight straight defeats.
Santa Margarita’s offense was firing on all cylinders. Quarterback Trace Johnson - headed to Tulane - was nearly flawless, going 17-of-20 with four touchdowns and no picks.
His top target, USC-bound wideout Trent Mosley, was unstoppable. Eleven catches, 183 yards, two receiving scores, and a rushing TD.
De La Salle’s defense simply had no answers.
The Spartans, who hadn’t lost a game all season, found themselves overwhelmed early. They managed just 70 total yards in the first half.
A couple of red zone turnovers by Santa Margarita gave De La Salle short fields, and senior RB Jaden Jefferson (UNC commit) punched in two touchdowns. But outside of those moments, it was all Eagles.
For Telona, it wasn’t the ending he wanted, but the defensive lineman remains one of the more intriguing prospects in Cal’s 2026 class. He’s not enrolling early, so he’ll finish out the academic year before joining the Bears this summer.
Looking Ahead: Bears in Hibernation
With the high school season wrapped, Cal’s 2026 recruiting class is nearly locked in - and it’s shaping up to be one of the more balanced and promising groups in recent years. Here’s where things stand as of December 19:
Early Enrollees
- Daniel McMorris, OT, 4/5-Star (94 OVR) - Norman North (OK)
- Taimane Purcell, TE, 4/5-Star (90 OVR) - Kamehameha (HI)
- Victor Santino, RB, 3/5-Star (89 OVR) - Edison (FL)
- Kamo’i Huihui-White, IOL, 3/5-Star (88 OVR) - Saint Louis (HI)
- Nainoa Lopes, QB, 3/5-Star (88 OVR) - Saint Louis (HI)
- Kai Meza, WR, 3/5-Star (88 OVR) - Corner Canyon (UT)
- JD McKinley, LB, 3/5-Star (87 OVR) - Centennial (CA)
- Esaiah Wong, OT, 3/5-Star (87 OVR) - Kailua (HI)
- Elisha Faamatuainu, IOL, 3/5-Star (87 OVR) - Murrieta Valley (CA)
Summer Arrivals
- Jaxon Pyatt, LB, 3/5-Star (87 OVR) - Arvada West (CO)
- Niles Davis, ATH, 3/5-Star (87↑ OVR) - Westlake (CA)
- EJ Morgan, WR, 3/5-Star (89 OVR) - Central East (CA)
- Nemyah Telona, DL, 3/5-Star (88 OVR) - De La Salle (CA)
This group brings a strong mix of skill, size, and versatility. The Hawaiian pipeline continues to produce, and Cal’s presence in California, Florida, Utah, Colorado, and Oklahoma shows a national reach that’s only growing.
As the Bears get ready for their bowl game, and the next wave of talent prepares to arrive on campus, there’s a sense of momentum building in Berkeley. The future isn’t just coming - it’s already taking shape.