Battle at the Beach: Top Defensive Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top passing tournaments in the state took place last Saturday at Edison High in Huntington Beach, CA. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Battle at the Beach is an annual event where 20 teams gather to compete in 7-on-7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mater Dei won the event by beating Mission Viejo in the semifinals and Rancho Cucamonga in the finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some defensive players that stood out to me during the event. Disclaimer: I did not get to see every team play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>MATER DEI</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mater Dei was without top defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='147715' first='Zabien' last='Brown'], but other defensive players stepped up. [player_tooltip player_id='401232' first='Cory' last='Lavender'] had an interception against Mission Viejo in the semifinals and [player_tooltip player_id='282700' first='Daryus' last='Dixson'] also performed well. [player_tooltip player_id='283622' first='Jayden' last='Crowder'] also was impressive to me in the games I saw Mater Dei play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/MDFootball/status/1675357335567626240?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MDFootball/status/1675357335567626240?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>RANCHO CUCAMONGA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rancho Cucamonga was the surprise team of the day beating St. John Bosco in the semifinals and doing well in pool play against Los Alamitos. The defensive back that stood out the most to me was San Diego State commit [player_tooltip player_id='195520' first='Stacy' last='Bey']. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='401288' first='RJ' last='Sermons'] also had a big day along with senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='683636' first='Amaurey' last='Brooks']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/bey_stacy/status/1675539619579035648?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/bey_stacy/status/1675539619579035648?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>ST. JOHN BOSCO</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bosco's defense was every bit as good as advertised on Saturday. The linebacker trio of [player_tooltip player_id='115443' first='Kyngstonn' last='Viliamu-Asa'], [player_tooltip player_id='273572' first='Khmori' last='House'] and [player_tooltip player_id='115469' first='Jordan' last='Lockhart'] may be the best position group on a team I've ever seen. Bosco rotated in several defensive backs, but two guys that coach <strong>Jason Negro</strong> praised were Idaho commit [player_tooltip player_id='398450' first='Frankie' last='Edwards III'] and [player_tooltip player_id='273626' first='Tamal' last='Johnson']. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='283632' first='Josh' last='Holland'] was an under the radar guy that Negro praised.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/mikehuntley63/status/1675173308428582912?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/mikehuntley63/status/1675173308428582912?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>MISSION VIEJO</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mission Viejo's secondary is very good despite being young at the safety and nickel corner position. [player_tooltip player_id='723683' first='Dijon' last='Lee'] is one of the best athletes in the county and [player_tooltip player_id='398456' first='Trey' last='Tolmaire'] has developed nicely as a lock down corner in man coverage. [player_tooltip player_id='581016' first='Travis' last='Anderson'] had an interception against Orange Lutheran.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SANTA MARGARITA</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach <strong>Anthony Rouzier</strong> heavily praised junior defensive back <strong>Luke Anderson</strong> and said he will be an impact player this fall. [player_tooltip player_id='115437' first='Gage' last='Burnett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='147756' first='Levar' last='Talley'] are edge rushers who we may see off the ball as outside linebackers this season. Sophomore<strong> Izley Manutai </strong>also got praise from Rouzier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>ORANGE LUTHERAN</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orange Lutheran coach <strong>Rod Sherman</strong> was very happy with his defense when I talked to him after pool play. He gave a lot of credit to his senior safeties <strong>Wes Barksdale</strong> and <strong>Nico Marchello</strong>. He also gave credit to young [player_tooltip player_id='283646' first='Marcellous' last='Ryan'] in the secondary along with <strong>Ben Alefaio</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1000920' first='Dareon' last='Edmonds']</strong>. Sherman said that Orange transfer [player_tooltip player_id='282695' first='Jakob' last='Coleman'] has been a good addition at nickel corner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/mikehuntley63/status/1675232824184668160?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/mikehuntley63/status/1675232824184668160?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>LOS ALAMITOS</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Los Alamitos had some guys playing both ways on Saturday, including star running back [player_tooltip player_id='406707' first='Anthony' last='League']. League had a pick six against Rancho Cucamonga. Bishop Amat transfer [player_tooltip player_id='273556' first='Foster' last='Slaughter'] looked good in the reps I saw him play along with Orange transfer [player_tooltip player_id='149316' first='Jett' last='White']. [player_tooltip player_id='406686' first='Sirr' last='Bible'] also had some good reps. [player_tooltip player_id='683605' first='Isaiah' last='Rubin'], a transfer from Nevada, had an interception against Warren and [player_tooltip player_id='398426' first='Kamar' last='Mothudi'] played some linebacker even though he hasn't been on campus long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/MarjaBene/status/1675690879724687365?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MarjaBene/status/1675690879724687365?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>INGLEWOOD</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Inglewood has a very good pair of lengthy corners in <strong>Jalen Hill</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='819582' first='Jacob' last='Whitehead']</strong>. Whitehead is a 6-foot-2 freshman with offers from UNLV, Nevada and Michigan State among many others. Inglewood was a late replacement for Alemany.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jacobw_19/status/1670461443127537664?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jacobw_19/status/1670461443127537664?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CAPISTRANO VALLEY</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Capo Valley's defense is young and not that big, but very athletic and scrappy. They close to the ball quickly and the players mostly understand coverages and where to be on the field. The leader of the defense is linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='147764' first='Jackson' last='Sievers'] who had an interception against Cathedral Catholic. The Cougars coaching staff is also high on Centennial transfer <strong>Landen Woodson</strong> who is a safety and linebacker hybrid. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JacksonSievers/status/1675629260751634434?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JacksonSievers/status/1675629260751634434?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>EDISON</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edison went undefeated in pool play and even had an impressive win over St. John Bosco. The defense, which is now led by legendary coach <strong>Dave White</strong> performed well and gave up very few big plays. Coach <strong>Jeff Grady</strong> said it was a group effort on defense, which it certainly was, but a few players stood out to me. Former Servite and St. John Bosco linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='147754' first='Hoi' last='Amasio-Hansen'] is now at middle linebacker for Edison and he has leadership intangibles. <strong>Jared Schnoor</strong> was a cornerback who stood out and <strong>Gavin Slaughter</strong> had an interception against Bosco.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/EdisonChargerFB/status/1675234041753223170?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/EdisonChargerFB/status/1675234041753223170?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->