Battle at the Beach: Top Defensive Performers
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One of the top passing tournaments in the state took place last Saturday at Edison High in Huntington Beach, CA. The Battle at the Beach is an annual event where 20 teams gather to compete in 7-on-7. Mater Dei won…
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Continue ReadingOne of the top passing tournaments in the state took place last Saturday at Edison High in Huntington Beach, CA.
The Battle at the Beach is an annual event where 20 teams gather to compete in 7-on-7.
Mater Dei won the event by beating Mission Viejo in the semifinals and Rancho Cucamonga in the finals.
Here are some defensive players that stood out to me during the event. Disclaimer: I did not get to see every team play.
MATER DEI
Mater Dei was without top defensive back Zabien Brown Zabien Brown 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2024 State CA , but other defensive players stepped up. Cory Lavender Cory Lavender 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2026 State CA had an interception against Mission Viejo in the semifinals and Daryus Dixson Daryus Dixson 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Mater Dei | 2025 State CA also performed well. Jayden Crowder Jayden Crowder 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Santa Margarita | 2026 State CA also was impressive to me in the games I saw Mater Dei play.
RANCHO CUCAMONGA
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 Stacy Bey Stacy Bey 6'0" | 215 lbs | ATH Rancho Cucamonga | 2024 State CA . Sophomore RJ Sermons RJ Sermons 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Rancho Cucamonga | 2026 State CA also had a big day along with senior Amaurey Brooks Amaurey Brooks 6'0" | 165 lbs | DB Rancho Cucamonga | 2024 State CA .
ST. JOHN BOSCO
Bosco’s defense was every bit as good as advertised on Saturday. The linebacker trio of Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA , Khmori House Khmori House 6'2" | 205 lbs | LB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA and Jordan Lockhart Jordan Lockhart 6'3" | 220 lbs | ATH St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA may be the best position group on a team I’ve ever seen. Bosco rotated in several defensive backs, but two guys that coach Jason Negro praised were Idaho commit Frankie Edwards III Frankie Edwards III 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA and Tamal Johnson Tamal Johnson 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2024 State CA . Sophomore Josh Holland Josh Holland 6'3" | 185 lbs | ATH St. John Bosco | 2026 State CA was an under the radar guy that Negro praised.
MISSION VIEJO
Mission Viejo’s secondary is very good despite being young at the safety and nickel corner position. Dijon Lee Dijon Lee 6'3" | 180 lbs | DB Mission Viejo | 2025 State CA is one of the best athletes in the county and Trey Tolmaire Trey Tolmaire 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Mission Viejo | 2024 State CA has developed nicely as a lock down corner in man coverage. Travis Anderson Travis Anderson 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Mission Viejo | 2024 State CA had an interception against Orange Lutheran.
SANTA MARGARITA
Coach Anthony Rouzier heavily praised junior defensive back Luke Anderson and said he will be an impact player this fall. Gage Burnett Gage Burnett 6'1" | 230 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA and Levar Talley Levar Talley 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2024 State CA are edge rushers who we may see off the ball as outside linebackers this season. Sophomore Izley Manutai also got praise from Rouzier.
ORANGE LUTHERAN
Orange Lutheran coach Rod Sherman was very happy with his defense when I talked to him after pool play. He gave a lot of credit to his senior safeties Wes Barksdale and Nico Marchello. He also gave credit to young Marcellous Ryan Marcellous Ryan 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB St. John Bosco | 2026 State CA in the secondary along with Ben Alefaio and Dareon Edmonds Dareon Edmonds 6'2" | 160 lbs | DB Orange Lutheran | 2026 State CA . Sherman said that Orange transfer Jakob Coleman Jakob Coleman 5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH Orange Lutheran | 2025 CA has been a good addition at nickel corner.
LOS ALAMITOS
Los Alamitos had some guys playing both ways on Saturday, including star running back Anthony League Anthony League 6'0" | 205 lbs | RB Millikan | 2025 State CA . League had a pick six against Rancho Cucamonga. Bishop Amat transfer Foster Slaughter Foster Slaughter 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB Los Alamitos | 2024 State CA looked good in the reps I saw him play along with Orange transfer Jett White Jett White 6'1" | 155 lbs | DB Los Alamitos | 2025 CA . Sirr Bible Sirr Bible 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Millikan | 2025 State CA also had some good reps. Isaiah Rubin Isaiah Rubin 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Los Alamitos | 2024 State CA , a transfer from Nevada, had an interception against Warren and Kamar Mothudi Kamar Mothudi 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Los Alamitos | 2024 State CA played some linebacker even though he hasn’t been on campus long.
INGLEWOOD
Inglewood has a very good pair of lengthy corners in Jalen Hill and Jacob Whitehead Jacob Whitehead 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB Inglewood | 2027 State CA . 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.
CAPISTRANO VALLEY
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 Jackson Sievers Jackson Sievers 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Capistrano Valley | 2024 State CA who had an interception against Cathedral Catholic. The Cougars coaching staff is also high on Centennial transfer Landen Woodson who is a safety and linebacker hybrid.
EDISON
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 Dave White performed well and gave up very few big plays. Coach Jeff Grady 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 Hoi Amasio-Hansen Hoi Amasio-Hansen 6'1" | 215 lbs | RB Edison | 2024 State CA is now at middle linebacker for Edison and he has leadership intangibles. Jared Schnoor was a cornerback who stood out and Gavin Slaughter had an interception against Bosco.