South County Passing Tournament: Top Offensive Performers
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Some of the top programs in Southern California gathered at Mission Viejo High last Saturday for a passing tournament and lineman competition. There were some great players at the event. Here were some of the offensive players that stood out…
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Continue ReadingSome of the top programs in Southern California gathered at Mission Viejo High last Saturday for a passing tournament and lineman competition.
There were some great players at the event. Here were some of the offensive players that stood out to me throughout the day.
Disclaimer: I did not get a chance to watch every team at the tournament play.
Los Alamitos won the tournament and I wrote in depth about it here. But predictably Malachi Nelson Malachi Nelson 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA was among the top quarterbacks of the day. His throws look effortless and his accuracy is off the charts. Makai Lemon Makai Lemon 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA was great at receiver and the Griffins utilized other receivers like Gavin Porch Gavin Porch 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA , Ethan O’Connor Ethan O’Connor 6'1" | 165 lbs | ATH Los Alamitos | 2023 State CA and Alec Wills.
.@MalachiNelson9 knows how to spin it @ocvarsity @LosAlFootball pic.twitter.com/F7FEQLviEr
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) July 10, 2021
Servite was the favorite to win the tournament by a lot of coaches that I talked to. Noah Fifita Noah Fifita 5'10" | 175 lbs | QB Servite | 2022 State CA looked great and opposing coaches raved about his accuracy and decision making. Keyan Burnett Keyan Burnett 6'5" | 225 lbs | WR Servite | 2022 State CA was beating everyone in man coverage and making plays when double-covered as well.
Future Arizona connection?
Noah Fifita finds Keyan Burnett in the back of the end zone for a TD. pic.twitter.com/D0GhbKwod1
— Matt Moreno (@MattRMoreno) July 10, 2021
Mikey Welsh has been getting some buzz lately and will be a receiver to watch this year for the Friars. He had more touchdowns than Burnett on the day. He is fast, runs good routes and sure-handed.
.@MikeyWelsh16 continues his impressive day catching his 4th TD of the game against MV. pic.twitter.com/uxx6nFBViS
— Servite Football (@ServiteFootball) July 10, 2021
One of the best receivers I saw at the event was Jordan Ross Jordan Ross 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Warren | 2024 State CA of Pacifica (Garden Grove). The Mariners lined up against a far superior Servite team, and Darius Cowens Darius Cowens 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Warren | 2023 State CA threw a 40-yard fade to Ross for a touchdown on the game’s opening play which drew some gasps from the Servite coaching staff. Ross made plays all day and coach Vinny Lopez said he’s the best receiver he has ever coached. He has an offer from Notre Dame.
Mission Viejo was much-improved from its performance at the Battle at the Beach. Mikey Matthews Mikey Matthews 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA was back from a hamstring injury and he opens up the whole offense for the Diablos. He is the favorite target of quarterback Kadin Semonza Kadin Semonza 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Mission Viejo | 2023 State CA and when they needed a big third down conversion, the play was drawn up for Matthews.
Year 3 campaign is about to get started @missionfootball @GregBiggins @247recruiting @diablocjohnson pic.twitter.com/LVJ4Gb0mxp
— Mikey Matthews (@_mjmatt8) July 13, 2021
Matthews being on the field opened up opportunities for Jackson Holman who was the top receiver last week. He has some size, gets separation and has the strength to win some 50/50 balls. Semonza was much more accurate and comfortable than he was at the Battle at the Beach.
Year 3…⏳ @missionfootball @GregBiggins @ocvarsityguy @ColinMagnusson pic.twitter.com/jGcBKVpIgX
— Jackson Holman (@JacksonHolman4) July 13, 2021
Three class of 2024 quarterbacks shined at the tournament. Millikan’s Myles Jackson Myles Jackson 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Millikan | 2024 CA was being talked about by coaches even though I did not personally get a chance to see Millikan play. Long Beach Poly’s Darius Curry Darius Curry 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Long Beach Poly | 2024 State CA was bigger than I expected in person and made great throws for a sophomore. He transferred to the Jackrabbits from St. Bernard. Anthony Wolter Anthony Wolter 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Saint Bonaventure | 2024 State CA from Alemany made huge throws and he clearly has the respect of his teammates.
Some highlights from my last 7on7 tournament for the year. @AlemanyFootball @CoachDanny10 @GregBiggins pic.twitter.com/r6PcO0JJmu
— Anthony Wolter (@anthonywolter11) July 11, 2021
Jaxon Potter Jaxon Potter 6'4" | 180 lbs | QB Santa Margarita Catholic | 2023 State CA once again shined for Santa Margarita. The Eagles’ other quarterback Gavin Shaigineik also looked good and has an offer from Florida State. Immediately after the tournament, news came out that Shaigineik transferred to Tesoro, where he will most definitely be the starting quarterback.
Orange was without some top players but its new lefty quarterback was slinging it all over the field. Zachary Siskowic Zachary Siskowic 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Notre Dame | 2022 State CA was at Notre Dame and then played at Crespi this spring but now is in line to be the starter at Orange. He already has good rapport with his receivers and coach Robert Pedroza raved about him. He has offers from UT Martin and William & Mary.
Newport Harbor has really good receivers coming back this fall. Kashton Henjum Kashton Henjum 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Newport Harbor | 2023 State CA and Josiah Lamarque Josiah Lamarque 5'10" | 175 lbs | ATH Newport Harbor | 2024 State CA made big plays as expected, but Jacob Carlon Jacob Carlon 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Newport Harbor | 2024 State CA impressed me a lot. He made nice catches in traffic and played both ways frequently.
Newport Harbor beats Notre Dame 4 TDs to 3 TDs in their opening game at the Mission Viejo 7 on 7 tournament.@nickkim_7 to @1kjacob_ for the TD.
We’re excited to see what the sophomore Carlon can do with some WR reps this season! pic.twitter.com/WLZgLrp7vJ
— Sunset Rewind (@Sunset_Rewind) July 10, 2021
I mentioned Curry earlier from Long Beach Poly. He split reps with Shea Kuykendall Shea Kuykendall 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Long Beach Poly | 2022 State CA who was the clear leader of the huddle throughout the day. He has great pocket presence, throws hard and passing league football isn’t even his strong suit. Poly has some outstanding quarterbacks.
Tyson Bordeaux and Titus Bordeaux Titus Bordeaux 6'1" | 160 lbs | WR Long Beach Poly | 2024 State CA were the standouts at receiver for Poly. They were simply more athletic than most of the competition and they both win jump balls. Tyson is a senior and Titus is a sophomore.
Part II: Mission Viejo Tourney 2021. Tyson'22 & Titus'24 combined for over 30 receptions and 13 TDs. Great QB play by @KuykendallShea and @dariuscurry1_ @LBPoly_Football @PrepRedzoneCA @GregBiggins @UTRScouting @Recruit_LBPoly pic.twitter.com/WzRChjIojP
— Bordeaux Boys (@derekjbordeaux) July 12, 2021
Capo Valley beat some quality teams on the day. Trey Kukuk seemed comfortable at quarterback like he was a multi-year starter. He throws good underneath routes and his biggest strength is he goes through his progressions and often hits his fourth target.
Dane Benedix Dane Benedix 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Capistrano Valley | 2023 State CA was the guy for Capo that other coaches were talking to be about. They play him in the slot, motion him and create a lot of mismatches. He is a great athlete and was one of the best overall football players I saw Saturday. Cash Moormann made a lot of plays out of the backfield and is a versatile weapon on offense for the Cougars.
Trey Kukuk of Capo Valley looks good at QB. Dane Benedix stands out doing it all for Capo on both sides of the ball. @ocvarsity @ocvarsityguy @capofootball @CoachSeanCurtis @PrepRedzoneCA pic.twitter.com/8T1YrFDbGE
— Michael Huntley (@mikehuntley63) July 10, 2021
The last receiver who caught my eye was Delano Franklin Delano Franklin 5'11" | 175 lbs | ATH Bishop Amat | 2023 State CA of Bishop Amat. He is not the biggest receiver but he is fast, brings down balls in traffic and had some of the best hands of anyone I saw on Saturday. It is passing league, which means nothing, but Amat looks much improved from the spring. Franklin got an offer from Louisville shortly after the tournament.
Few clips from South County Mission tournament. #BishopAmat @CoachHagerty @TheMatt_V @adamgorney @GregBiggins @BrandonHuffman @SGVNSports @Scott_Schrader @samspiegs pic.twitter.com/GtU7BsCv5M
— Delano Lee 2️⃣3️⃣🎰 (@DelanoLee23) July 12, 2021