Southern California Top Defensive Performances: Week 4

<strong>Nick Juarez, Yucaipa, 2023</strong> Yucaipa got a nice intersectional win against University City of San Diego last week. Juarez led the Yucaipa defense with eight tackles, four for a loss and 2.5 sacks. He has seven sacks through five games during the Thunderbirds’ 5-0 start. Juarez is a former receiver with very good speed for a defensive lineman. https://twitter.com/Inland_Sports/status/1440881912269078532?s=20 <hr /> <strong>Darius Knight, Temecula Valley, 2022</strong> Temecula Valley’s defense was fantastic in a 35-28 win over Redlands East Valley last week. The Golden Bears had 10 sacks, three interceptions, blocked two punts and two field goals. Many players on Temecula Valley’s defense could have made this list but Knight had a particularly great game. The senior had six tackles and four sacks. Knight has offers from Lake Erie and Arizona Christian. https://twitter.com/DariusKnight_99/status/1386321249933037573?s=20 <hr /> <strong>Jaiden Letua, Mission Hills, 2022</strong> Letua is one of the best players in San Diego but he kind of flies under the radar. Part of that because his coaches don’t post stats, but part of it is because San Diego typically gets less recruiting attention than players in the Southern Section. He is a linebacker for a Mission Hills team that held Carlsbad to 13 points last week. Carlsbad is arguably the best team in San Diego and to hold them to 13 points is impressive. He is definitely a Division 1 prospect and could be an excellent FCS player or play for a group of five school. https://twitter.com/letua_jaiden/status/1437618401296273416?s=20 <hr /> <strong>Dominic Lopez, Edison, 2023</strong> Edison had its best game of the season last week in a shutout win over San Clemente. Edison has several great players on its defense but Lopez had a particularly great game. Lopez had five tackles, a half of a sack and two interceptions for the Chargers. He is a really good athlete who could play receiver if Edison wasn’t so deep at the skill positions. Lopez is a 4.0 GPA guy and an intriguing college prospect. https://twitter.com/richboyce4/status/1439052885921198083?s=20 <hr /> <strong>Joshua Venegas, Walnut, 2022</strong> Walnut had a shutout win over Ocean View of Huntington Beach on the road last week. The Mustangs got into the backfield regularly and made it tough for the Seahawks to move the ball. Venegas led Walnut in tackles with 10 and had five for a loss. The 10 tackles were a season-high for Venegas and he has had seven tackles for a loss in his last two games. https://twitter.com/Walnut_Mustangs/status/1380669359211732994?s=20 <hr /> <em><strong>Other top performers:</strong></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Erick Barrios, Compton</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Ratumana Bulabalavu, Army-Navy</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Luke Conti, Centennial</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Luke Crabtree, Ocean View</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Jimmy Cunningham, Simi Valley</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Owen Duckworth, Villa Park</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Keenan Eck, Apple Valley</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Anthony Ferrelli, Carlsbad</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Austin Grbic, Edison</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Peyton Gregory, Edison</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Mayson Hitchens, El Modena</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Jalen Johnson, Long Beach Poly</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Mikey Laderer, Aliso Niguel</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Chase Martin, Thousand Oaks</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Paul Mendoza, Segerstrom</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="25348" first="Kalim" last="Mikhail"], Bonita</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Aaron Muniz, Jurupa Hills</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Jayone Paschall, Marquez</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">William Payne, Yorba Linda</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="141923" first="Donovan" last="Poe"], Long Beach Poly</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Luke Rotenberg, Brentwood</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="25319" first="Harmon" last="Savaiinaea"], Cathedral Catholic</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="187247" first="Patrick" last="Sodl"], Loyola</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="142012" first="Xavier" last="Van"], Helix</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Anthony Villalobos, Canoga Park</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Arron “Jett” White, Orange</span>