South County Passing Tournament Highlights (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hosts Mission Viejo beat Mater Dei in the championship game of the South County Passing Tournament last Saturday at Mission Viejo High. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Diablos also won the linemen competition and beat Murrieta Valley for the championship in the tug of war. [player_tooltip player_id='1240744' first='Joshua' last='Bates'], [player_tooltip player_id='841044' first='Jaden' last='Williams'], <strong>Gavin Disbro</strong> and <strong>Sonny Pa'u</strong> led the linemen group for the Diablos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some top performers from the South County Passing Tournament:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>MISSION VIEJO</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Diablos were playing without their two top receivers, but guys stepped up to pick up the slack. Both quarterbacks [player_tooltip player_id='1000890' first='Luke' last='Fahey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='406731' first='Draiden' last='Trudeau'] were excellent in moments and let clutch scoring drives. <strong>Cash Semonza</strong> was the best offensive player according to coach <strong>Chad Johnson</strong>. Running backs Hinesward Lilomaiava, <strong>Davonte Curtis</strong> and <strong>William Taylor IV</strong> were making plays out of the backfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In my opinion, the player of the day was new Alabama commit [player_tooltip player_id='723683' first='Dijon' last='Lee'], who had multiple interceptions on defense and lots of big touchdowns on offense. Teams love playing man coverage in passing league and Lee was torching defenders throughout the day for long touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='283628' first='Jeron' last='Jones'] was playing corner opposite Lee and <strong>Brock deFries </strong>was playing nickel, the spot Jones excelled in last season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283589' first='Brady' last='Bowman'],</strong> a transfer from Mater Dei, looked good at linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ocvarsityguy/status/1807186200912126270","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/ocvarsityguy/status/1807186200912126270 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/mikehuntley63/status/1807106570985284078","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/1807106570985284078 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>MATER DEI</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mater Dei was excellent as usual despite playing without arguably its top receiver. [player_tooltip player_id='270900' first='Dash' last='Beierly'] took the majority of reps at quarterback that I saw. [player_tooltip player_id='401273' first='Kayden' last='Dixon-Wyatt'] had two touchdowns catches against Warren in the quarterfinals and [player_tooltip player_id='282711' first='Marcus' last='Harris'] was also good at receiver. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='723696' first='Abduall' last='Sanders'] stands out at linebacker and can explode to the flat quickly in pass coverage. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='723734' first='Lucas' last='Campizta']</strong> was also playing linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/GregBiggins/status/1807163088212570279","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/GregBiggins/status/1807163088212570279 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/mikehuntley63/status/1807109167687385140","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/1807109167687385140 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>WARREN</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Warren lost to Mater Dei in the quarterfinals but [player_tooltip player_id='282717' first='Madden' last='Iamaleava'] was making some of the most impressive throws of the day. Iamaleava is poised, confident and was fitting the ball into tight windows. [player_tooltip player_id='780272' first='Jalen' last='Ross'] was was consistently open and making big plays. [player_tooltip player_id='282691' first='Jace' last='Brown'] stands out physically when you watch the Bears. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>DAMIEN</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Damien and Upland were removed from the event after an altercation broke out in their postgame handshake. I didn't get to see a lot of Damien, but I did see returning quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='212219' first='Isaiah' last='Arriaza'] looking sharp. Bishop Amat transfer [player_tooltip player_id='401246' first='Eric' last='Osorio'] was good as well as junior receiver <strong>Gavin Lannon</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='294308' first='Caden' last='Arellano']</strong> played well on both sides of the ball and may be the team's best defensive player heading into the season. <strong>Mekhi Freeman</strong> also had a big day on defense with sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='471041' first='Gavin' last='Williams']</strong>. <strong>Raymond Ahumada, [player_tooltip player_id='1382568' first='Travon' last='Garrison'] (Mater Dei transfer), Daylon Stovell</strong> and <strong>James Taylor </strong>also got good reviews. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/cadenarellano/status/1807216623344107699","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/cadenarellano/status/1807216623344107699 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>UPLAND</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Upland has not named a starting quarterback yet but I was very impressed with class of 2027 QB <strong>Lequand Jackson</strong>. He's a big lefty who puts nice touch on the ball and has good vision. <strong>Isaiah Guerrero</strong> is also in the running at quarterback. <strong>Justin Benson </strong>was the team's leading receiver last season and had a big day Saturday according to coach <strong>Darryl Thomas</strong>. <strong>Luke Luevano</strong> also got good reviews at receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brody Morgan</strong> and <strong>Nick Bester</strong> led the defense according to Thomas. The best player for Upland was clearly USC commit [player_tooltip player_id='723695' first='Trestin' last='Castro']. He was constantly in the hip pocket of receivers and when he played offense, he had very good body control. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/_jackjack8/status/1800734363682017703","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/_jackjack8/status/1800734363682017703 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>MURRIETA VALLEY</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Murrieta Valley made the semifinals and lost to Mater Dei. [player_tooltip player_id='282686' first='Bear' last='Bachmeier'] was excellent on the short and intermediate throws and has a lot of zip behind his throws. I talked to Bachmeier before the semifinals and he gave credit to many receivers on his team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His four leading receivers from last season are all back and Bachmeier was very complimentary of them: <strong>Julian Treadwell, Derrick Johnson, Camden Connor</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='976907' first='Brandon' last='Gilbert'].</strong> He also gave credit to Chaparral transfer and San Diego State commit [player_tooltip player_id='282683' first='Jacob' last='Alvarez']. <strong>Kurrelle Thomas</strong> and Centennial transfer <strong>Brandon Ortega</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JacobAlvarez_10/status/1807543396845895850","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/JacobAlvarez_10/status/1807543396845895850 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KurelleT/status/1807462312393245122","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/KurelleT/status/1807462312393245122 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BOrtega_14/status/1807518999007371403","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/BOrtega_14/status/1807518999007371403 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->