Mission Viejo Passing Tournament Preview (Part 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of the top teams in Southern California will gather at Mission Viejo High this Saturday for a passing league tournament and linemen competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at the teams competing in the event:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>POOL C</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MATER DEI</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mater Dei has two new transfer quarterbacks in senior [player_tooltip player_id='1611412' first='Cameron' last='Pooley'] (Chaminade) and top junior [player_tooltip player_id='432272' first='Russell' last='Sekona'] (Leuzinger). [player_tooltip player_id='1408794' first='Asir' last='Nembhard'] is a running back to watch out of the backfield and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717738' first='Jaylen' last='Grier']</strong> is a speedy receiver to keep an eye on. I think we will see star safety [player_tooltip player_id='438050' first='Ace' last='Leutele'] play some receiver for the Monarchs this year too. The secondary is a big strength for Mater Dei with USC commit [player_tooltip player_id='490799' first='Danny' last='Lang'], [player_tooltip player_id='1149074' first='K' last='Patrick Hall'], Leutele and [player_tooltip player_id='1717686' first='Troy' last='Bishop']. Mater Dei has a good linebacking group back with [player_tooltip player_id='1197325' first='Dailon' last='Clanton Jr.'], Ezekial Su'a and [player_tooltip player_id='1197270' first='Mike' last='Davis'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/cameron_pooley/status/2060137726025060440?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/cameron_pooley/status/2060137726025060440?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/tbishop_0/status/2068167387619480013?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/tbishop_0/status/2068167387619480013?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CORONA DEL MAR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Corona del Mar played pretty well at the Battle at the Beach last weekend. The Sea Kings are going with two junior quarterbacks in [player_tooltip player_id='2004289' first='Luca' last='DiNapoli'] and <strong>JD Annett</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/07/battle-at-the-beach-notebook-3/">Click here to read about Corona del Mar's top performers</a> from the Battle at the Beach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/TuckerMurray16/status/2077213783211249967?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TuckerMurray16/status/2077213783211249967?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LAGUNA BEACH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Laguna Beach has a ton of talent back from its excellent team last season including quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1545888' first='Jack' last='Hurst']. Three of his top receivers are back and all three are two-way players. Air Force commit [player_tooltip player_id='2106868' first='Brady' last='Stringham'] was All-County last season and the duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1953141' first='William' last='Kimball'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2124184' first='Wyatt' last='Bogdan']. <strong>Charlie Christian</strong> is an excellent sophomore running back and linebacker. <strong>Colter Steris</strong> and <strong>Bob Gardner </strong>are other defensive players to watch alone with Stringham, Kimball and Bogdan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Jackhurst_12/status/2076349178096111831?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Jackhurst_12/status/2076349178096111831?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SANTA MARGARITA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Santa Margarita has a ton of new faces on defense but they shined in moments. Incoming freshman linebacker <strong>Aydan Steen</strong> is an impact guy that can shine in passing tournaments and <strong>Dax Karney </strong>made some nice plays at the Battle at the Beach. [player_tooltip player_id='2231347' first='Matthew' last='Smith'] ran the offense well and [player_tooltip player_id='2106838' first='Luke' last='Gazzaniga'] is a big target who has a versatile route tree.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/07/battle-at-the-beach-notebook-3/">Click here to read about Santa Margarita's top players</a> from the Battle at the Beach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/MattSmithqb/status/2076513965837021632?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MattSmithqb/status/2076513965837021632?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>POOL D</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SIERRA CANYON</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='584471' first='Jaxsen' last='Stokes'] is one of the most dangerous running backs in the Southern Section and can make receiving plays out of the backfield for Sierra Canyon. <strong>Demarco Hernandez</strong> is expected to the the starting quarterback. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2124195' first='King' last='Webb']</strong> and Oaks Christian transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1608616' first='Jaxon' last='Sharp'] will be receivers to keep an eye on. UCLA commit [player_tooltip player_id='596193' first='Myles' last='Baker'] is back to lead the secondary with [player_tooltip player_id='958720' first='Mykel' last='Ramos'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1611209' first='Faruq' last='Muhammad'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Mdot_5/status/2074143813636169904?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Mdot_5/status/2074143813636169904?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/MykelRamos_7/status/2067022244157726959?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MykelRamos_7/status/2067022244157726959?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OAKS CHRISTIAN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I didn't get to see a ton of Oaks Christian at the Battle at the Beach but will take a closer look on Saturday. <strong>Niko Bladow</strong> is a rising sophomore quarterback and I'm high on receivers <strong>Xavier Burkett</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='2174640' first='Joshua' last='Tyler']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/NikoBladow/status/2069241576426188842?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NikoBladow/status/2069241576426188842?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TUSTIN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tustin won the Silver Bracket at the Battle at the Beach and was moving the ball well offensively throughout the day. [player_tooltip player_id='1455302' first='Ayden' last='Edwards'] looked sharp and spread the ball around well. [player_tooltip player_id='1622362' first='Hayden' last='Koo'] is a top receiver in his class and [player_tooltip player_id='2106852' first='Jeremiah' last='Salvant'] was also a standout at receiver along with [player_tooltip player_id='1197319' first='Rufai' last='Azeez']. [player_tooltip player_id='1197207' first='Khalil' last='Terry'] did not compete at the Battle at the Beach but said he may compete at this tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/07/battle-at-the-beach-notebook-3/">Click here to read about some of Tustin's top performers </a>at the Battle at the Beach. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Haydenkoo0/status/2076712838589211023?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Haydenkoo0/status/2076712838589211023?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SALESIAN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Salesian features Georgetown commit [player_tooltip player_id='1611260' first='Donovan' last='Shirley'] at quarterback. <strong>Don Rodriguez</strong> will be a top target for Shirley along with <strong>Stephen Oavaroff </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1621204' first='Jordan' last='Slye'] Jr.</strong> Salesian has a lot of firepower back in the secondary like <strong>Justice White</strong>, <strong>Jesse Andrade</strong> and Slye. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/dshirl08/status/2068865504488386693?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/dshirl08/status/2068865504488386693?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LONG BEACH POLY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Long Beach Poly had some of the best receiver and defensive back duos at the Battle at the Beach. [player_tooltip player_id='1197229' first='Julius' last='Johnson'] played both ways and made some plays and [player_tooltip player_id='1197222' first='Donte' last='Wright'] is the first guy you notice when you watch Poly play. [player_tooltip player_id='2066034' first='Trevor' last='Scott'] looked big and polished at quarterback and was making some advanced plays for a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/07/battle-at-the-beach-notebook-3/">Click here to read about some of Long Beach Poly's top performers</a> from the Battle at the Beach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Tracy_McDannald/status/2075997566236561510?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Tracy_McDannald/status/2075997566236561510?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->