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Jr Best of the West I LIVE!6/25/2016 EXHIBITION Field 1 9:00 - Team Zorts vs Elite Athletes 9:30 - Elite Athletes vs SoCal Playmakers 10:00 - SoCal Playmakers vs Team Zorts Field 2 9:00 - Team Smash vs No Fly Zone 9:30 - Flight Elite vs Team Smash 10:00 - No Fly Zone vs Flight Elite PLAYOFFS 10:45 - No. 4 Elite Athletes vs No. 5 No Fly Zone (Field 1) 10:45 - No. 3 Team Smash vs No. 6 SoCal Playmakers (Field 2) 11:15 - No. 1 Team Zorts vs Elite Athletes/No Fly Zone (Field 1) 11:15 - No. 2 Flight Elite vs Team Smash/SoCal Playmakers (Field 2) 11:50 - Passing Down Junior Best of the West Championship (Field 1) LIVE BLOG! 9:15 am - Games are underway with the finishing approaching in less than five minutes. Top seed Team Zorts facing Elite Athletes and Team Smash taking on No Fly Zone. 9:20 am - Team Zorts and Team Smash come away victorious. 9:35 am - NorCal champs Flight Elite start fast with a pick-6 by NorCal MVP Jeremiah Hunter then follow it up with a 38-yard bomb to set up a touchdown. SoCal Playmakers also taking the field for the first time today. The future stars of elite 7-on-7 are showcasing their talent on this sunny day in Southern California. 9:55 am - Elite Athletes and Team Smash finish up their exhibition games and now take a seat and await the Jr Best of the West I playoff. 10:00 am - Flight Elite (Fresno) and No Fly Zone (Bakersfield) are facing off in a rehash of original Fresno-Bakersfield 7-on-7 rivalry that began in 2010 at the first Passing Down Best of the West (High School division). A Bakersfield area team played in the first three high school division BOTW finals winning in 2011. A Fresno area team (Field Up) won the first ever Passing Down Jr Elite 7-on-7 tournament in 2014. These two cities have a storied history with Passing Down and Flight Elite and No Fly Zone continue the rivalry today. 10:20 am - Exhibition games are done and the playoffs will begin in just under a half hour. The top teams from Northern and Southern California are here vying for the most coveted trophy in the Golden State -- the right to call themselves the Best of the West. 10:25 am - No. 3 seed Team Smash will look to continue their hot streak from the SoCal Regional when the face No. 6 seed SoCal Playmakers. In the other opening round playoff matchup, No. 4 seed Elite Athletes will look to fend off No. 5 seed No Fly Zone. 11:05 am - Team Smash smashes SoCal Playmakers 19-7 to advance to play No. 2 seed Flight Elite. Elite Athletes blanked No Fly Zone 19-0 to advance to face top seed Team Zorts. 11:40 am - Team Smash and Elite Athletes pull off upsets to advance to the Jr Best of the West championship. Elite Athletes used a go-ahead extra point to take a 15-14 lead with less than 15 seconds to play to beat top seed Team Zorts. Smash scored their go-ahead score in the last minute to beat No. 2 seed Flight Elite 14-6. 12:05 am - Team Smash wins Jr Best of the West I.
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The top qualifying junior high elite 7on7 teams will compete for a California state championship on June 25th in the inaugural Passing Down Junior Best of the West finals, including Northern California top seed team Flight Elite and Southern California top seed Team Zorts.Santa Clarita, CA - It's the Junior Best of the West; where on June 25th the best junior high elite 7on7 teams in the state of California can earn the title as a prestigious Passing Down champion.
The competition will get underway at 9:00 a.m. at West Ranch high school with the following qualifying teams: Flight Elite, Team Zorts, Elite Athletes, Team Smash, SoCal Playmakers, and team No Fly Zone. Check back on the Passing Down website news link for the tournament results.
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11:30 am - The Bracket is set and 12 teams have advanced to the Passing Down Jr Elite 7-on-7 SoCal Regional playoffs. Team Zorts, RhareBreed, Team D1 and Elite Athlete earned the top 4 seeds.
12:40 pm - Team Smash came from the bottom to the top. They won the play-in game to earn the 12th seed then beat No. 5 seed Manhattan Beach and No. 4 seed Elite Athletes to earn a spot in the Jr Best of the West. Joining them are the top 3 seeds Team Zorts, Rharebreed and Team D1. Earning the 5th spot as Jr BOTW qualifier is Elite Athletes based on their seeding, wins, and point differential. 1:00 pm - Championship is set. Team Zorts versus the defending SoCal Regional champs RhareBreed. 1:30 pm - Team Zorts beats RhareBreed to claim the SoCal Regional championship. Pool Play Field 1 9:00 - Rhare Breed 18 vs Big Play Football 8 9:35 - No Fly Zone 26 vs HW Club 12 10:10 - HW Club 8 vs Rhare Breed 14 10:45 - Big Play Football 21 vs No Fly Zone 12 11:05 - 11:20 break Field 2 9:00 - Cal Youth Sports 13 vs Agile Athletes 8 9:35 - Manhattan Beach Horned Frogs 18 vs Cal Youth Sports 6 10:10 - Agile Athletes 7 vs Manhattan Beach Horned Frogs 6 (OT) 10:45 - open 11:05 - 11:20 break Field 3 9:00 - East Side Air Raid 6 vs Elite Athlete 26 9:35 - Team D1 14 vs. East Side Air Raid 6 10:10 - Elite Athlete 14 vs Team D1 19 10:45 - open 11:05 - 11:20 break Field 4 9:00 - SoCal Playmakers 20 vs Team Smash 15 9:35 - Team Smash 0 vs Team Zorts 25 10:10 - Team Zorts 20 vs SoCal Playmakers 7 10:45 - open 11:05 - 11:20 break Playoffs 11:20 - No. 12 seed vs No. 13 seed (Field 4) 11:50 - No. 5 seed vs No. 12/13 winner (Field 4) 11:50 - No. 6 seed vs No. 11 seed (Field 3) 11:50 - No. 7 seed vs No. 10 seed (Field 2) 11:50 - No. 8 seed vs No. 9 seed (Field 1) 12:20 - No. 1 seed vs No. 8/9 winner (Field 1) 12:20 - No. 2 seed vs No. 7/10 winner (Field 2) 12:20 - No. 3 seed vs No. 6/11 winner (Field 3) 12:20 - No. 4 seed vs.No. 5/12 seed winner (Field 4) 12:50 - Semifinal 1: 1/8/9 winner vs 4/5/12 winner (Field 1) 12:50 - Semifinal 2: 2/7/10 winner vs 3/6/11 winner (Field 2) 1:20 - Championship (Field 1)
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The first of two California junior high school division regional tournaments will commence on Saturday in Sacramento. Check back in the morning for all the action LIVE from Inderkum High School. Flight Elite out of Fresno (Calif.) took home the championship with a win over Good Game and earned a berth to the Passing Down Jr Best of the West. North Bay Ballers was the third team that earned a spot at the first annual event June 25 in Santa Clarita. Click HERE to read about the top performers on Scout.com!
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Haener Has Something to Prove5/5/2016 by Lorenzo Reyna The fastest rising quarterback in California’s San Ramon Valley happens to describe himself as the biggest underdog. Jake Haener of Danville (Calif.) Monte Vista – the Most Valuable Player of Passing Down’s February 2016 Northern California Regional - may have received scholarship offers from Akron, Toledo, Middle Tennessee, Hawaii and Northern Arizona from February to April, but at 6-foot, 180-pounds, the Class of 2017 prospect said not everyone is raving about his quarterback play due to his size. Haener, however, said he’s unfazed by his size dilemma. “I may not have size but I don’t let that stop me,” Haener said. He showed an ability to play bigger than his size indicates during the Passing Down season. Haener displayed a cool demeanor, even when the Kenion Training DI Elite Red offense went stagnant, and impressed spectators with the velocity he executed to his throws. Haener shared the quarterback load with the February Nor Cal champs, helping guide Kenion to another appearance to the Best of the West Regional on April 24 in Placentia, Calif. and this time, the East Bay squad finished in the top four of the 18-team field. Along with his zip and moxie, Haener describes himself as a cerebral signal caller. “I’m a smart quarterback,” Haener said. “I’m not polished but I get the ball where it needs to be all the time. Plus knowing what the defense is going to run helps me a lot. That’s my strength, being smart.” He finds his other motivation through comparing himself to the nation’s other top field generals. “I see where I stand with the other quarterbacks in the country and ask myself ‘Am I better than him and do I need to work on a few more things?’ I like to see where they stand and where I stand,” Haener said. More offers could be on the horizon for the latest stud quarterback from Monte Vista; the place where Kyle Wright emerged as a national recruit before committing to Miami in 2003. Haener said USC, Wake Forest, Colorado State and Washington State are all planning to visit Monte Vista to watch him throw, saying “They’re all talking about potentially offering me if they like what they see.” Fresno State is another school looking to check out Haener, he said. The one university he’s hoping to get an offer from is the place he calls his dream school: USC. “Growing up, I saw them win all the time,” Haener said. “It was during a time when I was four or five years old. I even got a Matt Leinert and John David Booty jersey so they [USC] kind of caught on [with me].” Haener has a career already mapped out. He said he’s interested in the communications field because his mother, Julie, is a renowned news anchor/reporter in the Bay Area for San Francisco Fox affiliate KTVU. “My mom has been doing it for 18 years at KTVU and 25 years total. She knows a lot about it [the news industry] and she’s great at what she does,” Haener said. “It’s cool to see her do that.” While Haener continues to lure the college coaches to Monte Vista, the Passing Down alum believes that even with mid-major offers, he’s one of the top sleepers in the state. Said Haener: “I really do [feel like a sleeper]. People have knocked me down because of my height but I’ve been out here and I believe I can compete with the best guys out there. I’m not scared of anyone.”
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Ground Zero Crowned Best of the West4/25/2016 Led by USC commit and tournament Most Valuable Player Stephen Carr, who kept his engine revving throughout a seven hour tournament, plus a defense that unleashed a tidal wave against opposing offenses and swept away any big play opportunities, Ground Zero can call themselves the Passing Down Best of the West champions for the second time in three years. The Inland Empire based team knocked off the Pro Way Hot Boyz 13-0 in Best of the West VII held at Bradford Stadium in Placentia, Calif. on April 24. Ground Zero – winners of the 2014 tournament - utilized the big plays and stamina of Carr and then relied on a stockpiled secondary that only surrendered a combined 24 points in four playoff games. Carr not only scored on a 24-yard scamper, but sealed Ground Zero’s title by taking another handoff down the right side and accelerating for a 35-yard gain during the contest’s closing moments. Carr took home the MVP hardware and won new Monster 24K headphones; which gets awarded to the Best of the West MVP. “A lot is going through my head. It’s exciting to be the Best of the West champions and this is my last year on this circuit, so it feels great to win,” Carr said. While the 2017 prospect Carr was the ankle-breaking and speed weapon for the Ground Zero offense, he gave credit to the rest of his Ground Zero crew. “I can’t put this on the offense, the defense gave us a shutout. I give props to our defense and everyone on this team makes me a better player. I give all props to them,” Carr said. Defensively, the five-headed monster of Olaijah Griffin, Thomas Graham, Jaiden Woodbey, Deommodore Lenoir and Jaylon Redd put the clamps down on opposing offenses. Redd, who holds 13 Football Bowl Subdivision offers including two from Oregon and Nebraska, said the defense came with a lot patience. “We were going against the best of the best and if we got beat, we couldn’t keep our head down,” Redd said. “We just had to keep our head up and keep working. We played physical, smart and kept our heads up the entire game.” Redd brought versatility to the Ground Zero secondary by lining up at both cornerback and safety, which he said brought confusion to Pro Way quarterback and Nebraska commit Tristan Gebbia. “Our coaches said they like to throw the ball down the middle of the field, so I played on the third receiver – the running back over the top – and I kind of slowed down his reads and that’s what worked for us,” Redd said. The win over Pro Way was also a measure of revenge for Ground Zero, as they fell 14-6 during their last meeting at the March 20 Southern California regional held in Fontana. “Man, out of all these teams and states, we’re the best in the world,” Redd said. By Lorenzo Reyna
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Best of the West VII LIVE!4/24/2016
9:40 am - OC Elite, AV Elite, Energy Elite and RhareBreed Congo got the action going at 9 am on a sunny Southern California morning. The field is loaded today with 18 teams filled with best talent of America. Headlined by the nation's No. 1 player Najee Harris, every major media outlet is here to cover the action.
Proway Hot Boyz is the overall top seed but any team in the field is capable of claiming the Best of the West VII title. 10:20 am - Lids Team Sports QB JT Daniels is on fire this morning. Dropping bombs all over the field against a stacked Kenion Training team. Lids is filled with kids from Orange County's Mater Dei while Kenion Training D1 Elite Red has its share of talent from tradition rich De La Salle (Concord, CA). Both Catholic schools field some of the best high school football teams in the Golden State every year. 10:30 am - OC Elite is playing its second exhibition media game against Game-Fit Elite. The OC boys finished in the top four in the first SoCal Regional and played in Best of the West VI. Game-Fit also played in Best of the West last year and both squads look to fare better in 2016. Team AIGA is playing in its first media game against Silly U. AIGA is one of the first 7v7 club teams on the circuit and are playing in their first Best of the West. Silly U on the other hand is new to the game. This is first year in any 7v7 circuit and qualified for the prestigious BOTW in the first NorCal regional in February. 11:45 am - Ground Zero Panoramic -- winners of Best of the West V -- are in a heated contest with TMP Elite in a highly anticipated matchup of arguably the best running backs in America -- Najee Harris and Stephen Carr. Coming up at 12 pm Pro Way Hotboyz will be making their debut versus KT D1 Elite Red -- the No. 2 seed. 12:55 pm - The last of the media exhibition games are about to begin. KT D1 Elite Red beat Pro Way Hot Boyz in the last minute. They can only meet in the championship game in their seeds hold. TMP Elite knocked off Ground Zero in another heated North versus South contest. Playoffs begin at 2 and it's win or go home. 1:50 pm - Hayward (Calif.) Stellar Prep DE Addison Gumbs is presented with his U.S. Army All-American invitation today at Best of the West VII. He joins four other Army All-Americans playing today Harris, Carr, Tyjon Lindsey, and Darnay Holmes. 2:40 pm - RhareBreed Congo knocks off AV Elite in the 14 seed play-in game while Energy Elite takes out OC Elite in the 15 seed play-in game. The No. 6 seed Ground Zero Panoramic is facing No. 11 Malu Fitness. No. 5 SWAG Factory is playing No. 12 Gridiron GameChangers. 4:00 pm - Eight teams are done as we enter last first round playoff games. All the higher seeds have held including No. 8 TMP Elite that beat an impressive Lids Team Sports, the No. 9 seed. Lids only previous loss on the Passing Down circuit was versus today's top seed Pro Way Hot Boyz in the SoCal Regional Two semifinals. 4:30 pm - Game-Fit Elite pulls off the upset over No. 4 seed Team AIGA. The No. 13 seed held on for a 14-13 win. In a bigger upset, No. 14 seed RhareBreed Congo beat No. 3 seed Epic 7 West, 14-7. 5:00 pm - Behind two interceptions returned for touchdowns, Pro Way Hot Boyz beat TMP Elite, 20-12, and advance to the Final Four. On the other side of the bracket, KT D1 Elite Red beat Team Apex, 12-6. 5:30 pm - Game-Fit Elite continues its amazing run after stopping Gridiron GameChangers on a two-point conversion to win 22-20. Next up for them is Pro Way Hot Boyz, that has yet to lose a game on the Passing Down circuit in 2016. Ground Zero Panoramic beat the young RhareBreed Congo squad, 20-12, in the other second round matchup. They face KT D1 Elite Red next. 6:00 pm - It's an Epic rematch of the SoCal Regional Two final. Ground Zero defeats KT D1 Elite Red, 20-12, while Pro Way beats Game-Fit Elite, 14-8. The energy is unmatched. No. 1 versus No. 2 seed in the battle for Best of the West.
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Connor Neville Has Solid Day in Hayward by Lorenzo Reyna Washington State commit Connor Neville brought the “lazer show” from the Pacific Northwest to Chabot College on April 10 - and ended up beaming past some of the best defenders in California at Passing Down’s Northern California regional. The Class of 2017 prospect arrived to the tournament as the No. 1 quarterback in Oregon according to scout.com and proved he was worth the hype. Neville used his powerful right arm to unleash the long ball toward his wide receivers Austin Kramer and Parker Cardwell throughout the day, averaging over four touchdown passes per game for Team E Force Oregon Breed. Neville, who verbally committed to the Cougars during Washington State’s Junior Day on April 2, said he and his Oregon comrades came to PD with a chip on their shoulder; they wanted to make their statement against the top talent from their neighboring state of California. “It [the Oregon talent] is extremely slept on,” Neville said. “This year, we have over 10 kids who hold five NCAA DI offers. We’re on the come up for sure. We’re heavily slept on and we can compete with anyone.” Neville not only displayed his mad bomber side, but also showed pinpoint accuracy in the short game as his club team landed a No. 1 seed in their pod before losing to Best of the West qualifier TMP Elite in the round of 16. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder held other offers from Hawaii and Boise State out of the Mountain West. Neville added that Central Florida of the American Athletic Conference was close to offering him before he decided to pull the trigger on Wazzu’s pledge. “I’m really excited about that [going to Washington State],” Neville said, who added that his Junior Day experience led to his early college announcement, saying “It was fun. We got to practice and I got a chance to talk to Luke Falk [the current starting quarterback for the Cougars]. I loved everything about the way they practiced, loved their facilities, I loved everything about Washington State.” His interactions with head coach Mike Leach brought more sense of excitement for the Passing Down alum. “Coach Leach told me that I was the first kid he offered in the 2017 class and we love you a lot,” Neville said. “With what Coach Leach has done in the past few years with his offense, you can’t pass up an opportunity like that. Every quarterback’s dream is to air it out in college. I get the opportunity to do that soon.” If he stays true to his word about heading to Pullman, Wash. after his prep career ends, Neville will be going to an offense that averaged 389.15 yards through the air and scored 41 passing touchdowns. The good news for Cougar fans? He said he’s fully committed to Washington State. His club team may have fallen short of a Best of the West bid, but Neville and E Force Oregon Breed emerged as the talk of the tournament with their offensive fireworks under the cloudy Bay Area sky. While he’s used to receiving high praise, he tries to stay even keeled about the recognition. “It feels good. I’ve worked so hard and everyone around me has made me great. I don’t really pay attention to that stuff but it does feel good [to be recognized],” Neville said.
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Isaiah Hodgins Dominates Passing Down4/17/2016 Elite Pass Catcher Has 12 Offers by Lorenzo Reyna Add Isaiah Hodgins to the list of high-profile Class of 2017 Passing Down alums who hail from an NFL household. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound wide receiver from Walnut Creek (Calif.) Berean Christian – whose father is former NFL fullback James Hodgins - emerged as the fourth pro football son to show off his dominance in front of the West’s most talented prospects on April 10 at Chabot College. Hodgins – the current owner of 12 Football Bowl Subdivision offers including Purdue, Washington State and Oregon State – is among a list that includes Stanford commit Tucker Fisk (son of former NFL veteran Jason), Darnay Holmes (son of Darick) and Nebraska pledge Keyshawn Johnson Jr. as high school athletes who had a dad doing his work on Sunday afternoons in front of millions of fans. His father was known more for clearing the running lanes for NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk during his time with the St. Louis Rams. While Hodgins’ Super Bowl winning fullback dad wasn’t known for his receiving skills, the younger Hodgins describes the nine-year pro player and high school football coach as one of his biggest receiving teachers. “He’s my coach too,” Hodgins said. “He’s always giving me tips, he shares stories of the people he played with and points out things I can do better on. He never lets me get off too easy.” Hodgins made it clear to cornerbacks at Chabot that covering him wasn’t going to be easy. He tormented defensive backs with his routes, double moves and even hauling down one-handed grabs as his squad TMP Elite punched their ticket into the April 24 Best of the West Regional by placing in the top four. Arguably, his biggest play came during the semifinal round against Team Malu Fitness. Hodgins ran a deep fade route into the end zone, stretched out his left hand then corralled the ball into his chest for the touchdown, walking away from the play by proudly yelling “All I need is one hand.” Big plays like that have helped turn him into one of the most desired receivers among college football coaches on the recruiting trail. “I’m physical, fast and I go and get the ball,” Hodgins said. “I’m not afraid of anybody. I think I can also get the ball short and make a big play out of it.” He doesn’t just sit down with his father and break down game film on his down time. Hodgins spends some of his spare time dissecting the explosive plays that are made by the NFL receiver he likes comparing himself to: Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons. “He’s a lot like me,” Hodgins said. “He’s not the quickest, fastest dude like Antonio Brown [of the Pittsburgh Steelers]. He’s big and built like me because he’s strong, he goes and gets the ball and he runs good routes. Hodgins is aiming to announce his college choice by the end of May. In the meantime, he’s not only narrowing down his college choice, but the son of the Super Bowl XXXIV winner is seeking to improve on his game, even with bloodlines and 12 reported offers. “I’m working on running more crisp routes, seeing the ball all the way in and catching the ball at all times, especially if it’s in my area,” Hodgins said.
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Team Epic 7 West out of San Jose denied the sky against TMP Elite, as the club unit snatched a regional title game record of five interceptions in their 20-0 shutout victory to clinch Passing Down’s April 10 Northern California Regional. A sea of blue and green defenders washed away any scoring opportunities at Chabot College in Hayward against a loaded TMP squad that featured national recruits Isaiah Hodgins, Jullen Ison and Alabama commit Najee Harris. One of those guys denying big play opportunities was tournament Most Valuable Player Ulonzo Gillian out of Merced High. “Man it feels really good to come out on top,” Gillian said. “It all falls into what we did in practice all week. We just stuck with our game plan. We were in man and zone. I switched off one time and it threw their offense off.” Along with Gillian, sophomore Tariq Bracy of Milpitas High and Bennett Williams of Mountain View-Saint Francis had interceptions. Gillian showed his quick six side during one key rushing touchdown that shifted the momentum of the game. He took a handoff to the left in what was supposed to be a simple short yardage play. But instead, he discovered an open lane and accelerated 40 yards into the end zone to put Epic 7 up 13-0. “That running play was meant for us to pick up the first down, but the lane opened up and I just took what they offered me,” Gillian said. Outside of Gillian, a quarterback rotation of Kyle Lindquist from Chico-Pleasant Valley and Blake Stenstrom from Colorado state powerhouse Valor Christian led an efficient offensive attack. Head coach Sione Ta’ufo’ou described his team as an unselfish group. “It think it (our win) goes with our approach. We asked our kids to buy into our process and they’ve done a great job with that,” Ta’ufo’ou said. “They’ve been selfless, extremely competitive and very coachable.” Epic 7 West will now enter the Best of the West Regional in two weeks at Fullerton. Joining them will be returning qualifier TMP Elite, Malu Fitness and E Force Elite. By Lorenzo Reyna
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Passing Down NorCal Regional LIVE!4/10/2016 8:20 am - The rain has let up at Chabot College in Hayward, Ca. Nonetheless, rain or shine, Northern California's best will rise and grind at the Passing Down NorCal Regional Two. Teams are arriving and the fields are set up for the final stop on the Passing Down Elite 7-on-7 circuit. The four top finishers today will advance to Best of the West VII on April 24 in Orange County. 8:26 am - Big Blue 2 is a group of freshmen from Bellarmine Prep in San Jose that look to repeat the success of their predecessors -- Big Blue. The first edition won Best of West VI last year with a tremendous comeback in the championship game versus RhareBreed. Big Blue 2 will face a tough test in its second game against TMP Elite that has the nation's No. 1 ranked player Najee Harris. 9:35 am - The first four games are in the books. Family First Falcons got by 916 Elite, 12-6, in overtime. Lights Out beats Big Blue, 26-22. Epic West 7 shuts out TMP Elite POG, 18-0, and Best of the West VII qualifier Kenion Training D1 Elite Red cruises by Top Flight Academy, 34-0. 10:05 am - Next four go down with a few surprises other than Malu Fitness with a 26-12 win over Quick 6 Elite. Malu Fitness didn't win a game last time in Hayward. KT Rebel Red, Elevate Elite and IamFitness510 all win. 10:35 am - TMP Elite knocks out Big Blue, 30-6. Big Blue 2 will play in the elimination game. VGT Elite romps Family First Falcons, 39-14. Epic West is unbeaten after pulling a 27-12 upset over KT D1 Elite Grey. Good Game defeats Top Flight Academy, 14-6. Top Flight Academy will play in the elimination game. 12:05 pm - Pool play and the three elimination games are done. Real Intense, SWAG Factory Ballers and Big Blue 2 go home early. KT D1 Elite Red forfeits its playoffs after qualifying for BOTW VII last time out in Hayward. 12:35 pm - Second set of teams have begun pool play. DB Guru takes down BTA, 20-6. In a stunning shutout, G.A.P puts up 54 points against Ranch 77's Green. The Ranch 77's Blue squad fared a bit better but still lost to Oregon's EForce Breed team, 32-22. ATC beat ESD-Memory Tag 2, 18-6. 1:05 pm - Field Generals out of the Evergreen State defeat BTA Ghost, 28-19. Oregon's EForce Elite beat Real Neal from the Bay, 13-0. True Grit Sports Warriors take down ESD-Memory Tag, 28-12. And Diverse, Best of West VI qualifier, defeats the Wolfpack out of Clovis, 36-6. 1:30 pm - In the lone game at 1 pm, EForce Football Select out of Oregon defeats ESD-Memory Tag 2, 33-6. ESD-Memory Tag 2 will play in the elimination game. 2:50 pm - The seeds are set. EForce Breed, Diverse, Epic 7 and VGT Elite earn tops seeds. 4:05 pm - The top two seeds from each Fields have advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. However, No. 2 seed IamFitness510 needed a 40-yd TD in overtime to defeat No. 7 seed Ranch 77's Blue. 5:10 pm - The Sweet 16 is finalized after Wolfpack used a fullback dive to defeat Quick 6 Elite in overtime. The No. 6 seed team from Clovis and No. 6 True Grit are the lowest seedsin the final 16 teams. Two No. 5 seeds -- Good Game and BTA -- also advanced. 5:40 pm - The TMP Elite vs EForce Breed matchup lived up to the hype. Isaiah Hodgins leaping 2-point conversion gave TMP Elite a 24-12 lead. EForce Breed countered with a 40-yard TD strike to make it 24-18 but failed to stop TMP Elite on their final drive dropping an interception on a key third down play. Good Game pulled a huge upset knocking out No. 1 seed Diverse -- a BOTW qualifier the last four consecutive years. Top seeds VGT Elite and Epic 7 West both advance await their Elite 8 opponent. 6:30 pm - Easily the best Pod Championship environment in NorCal, Malu Fitness, TMP Elite, Epic 7 West, and EForce Oregon Elite punched their ticket to Best of the West VII. Malu with a slew of 8th graders has gone unscathed in a loaded field knocking out Good Game in the process. TMP Elite avenged their only loss by beating IamFitness510. They have been on a roll since the nation's No. 1 ranked player Najee Harris arrived during playoffs. Fresh off his visit to the University of Washington, the Alabama commit has been the bolt TMP needed today. Epic 7 West needed a 40-yard TD in overtime to edged a solid True Grit Sports Warriors squad. EForce Elite is the only out of state team to qualify for BOTW VII with a win over fellow unbeaten VGT Elite. 7:45 pm - TMP Elite and Epic 7 West advanced to the championship game with Epic 7 West posting a three touchdown shutout. Ulonzo Gilliam Jr. out of Merced taking home MVP honors for Epic 7 West. PLAYOFFS Energy Pod and Electrolytes Pod (Field 1) IamFitness510 VGT All-Stars TMP Elite Lights Out Ranch 77’s Blue BTA Ghost Field Generals EForce Oregon Breed 3:05 - No. 1 EForce Oregon Breed vs No. 8 Lights Out 3:35 - No. 2 IamFitness510 vs No. 7 Ranch 77’s Blue 4:05 - No. 4 TMP Elite vs No. 5 VGT All-Stars 4:35 - No. 3 Field Generals vs No. No. 6 BTA Ghost 5:05 - No. 1 EForce Oregon Breed vs. No. 4 TMP Elite 5:35 - No. 2 IamFitness510 vs No. 3 Field Generals 6:05 - No. 4 TMP Elite vs N0. 2 IamFitness510 TMP Elite advances to Best of the West VII. Speed Pod and Instinct Pod (Field 2) VGT Elite KT Rebel Red 916 Elite Family First Falcons Ranch 77’s Green EForce Oregon Elite G.A.P Real Neal 3:05 - No. 1 VGT Elite vs No. 8 Ranch 77’s Green 3:35 - No. 2 Eforce Oregon Elite vs No. 7 KT Rebel Red 4:05 - No. 4 Real Neal vs No. 5 Family First 4:35 - No. 3 G.A.P. vs No. 6 916 Elite 5:05 - No. 1 VGT Elite vs No. 4 Real Neal 5:35 - No. 2 EForce Oregon Elite vs No. 3 G.A.P. 6:05 - No. 1 VGT Elite vs No. 2 EForce Oregon Elite EForce Elite advances to Best of the West VII. Power Pod and Endurance Pod (Field 3) TMP POG Elevate Elite KT D1 Elite Grey Epic 7 West BTA DB Guru True Grit Sports Warriors ESD-Memory Tag 3:05 - No. 1 Epic 7 West vs No. 8 ESD-Memory Tag 3:35 - No. 2 DB Guru vs No. 7 TMP Elite POG 4:05 - No. 4 KT D1 Elite Grey vs No. 5 BTA 4:35 - No. 3 Elevate Elite vs No. 6 True Grit Sports Warriors 5:05 - No. 1 Epic 7 West vs No. 5 BTA 5:35 - No. 2 DB Guru vs No. 6 True Grit Sports Warriors 6:05 - No. 1 Epic 7 West vs No. 6 True Grit Sports Warriors Epic 7 West advances to Best of the West VII. Agility Pod and Impact Pod (Field 4) Good Game Malu Fitness Quick 6 Elite Top Flight Academy EForce Oregon Select Diverse Wolfpack ATC 3:05 - No. 1 Diverse vs No. 8 Top Flight Academy 3:35 - No. 2 Malu Fitness vs No. 7 ATC 4:05 - No. 4 EForce Oregon Select vs No. 5 Good Game 4:35 - No. 3 Quick 6 Elite vs No. 6 Wolfpack 5:05 - No. 1 Diverse vs No. 5 Good Game 5:35 - No. 2 Malu Fitness vs No. 6 Wolfpack 6:05 - No. 5 Good Game vs No. 2 Malu Fitness Malu Fitness advances to Best of the West VII. FINALS 6:35- Semifinal 1 -- TMP Elite vs Malu Fitness (Field 1) 6:35- Semifinal 2 -- EForce Oregon Elite vs Epic 7 West (Field 2) 7:00 - 7:10 break 7:10 - NorCal Regional Championship - TMP Elite vs Epic 7 West Epic 7 West is your 2016 NorCal Regional Two champs. Energy Pod (Field 1) Big Blue 2 0-2 IamFitness510 2-0 Lights Out 1-1 TMP Elite 1-1 VGT All-Stars 1-1 9:00 - Big Blue 2 22 vs Lights Out 26 9:30 - IamFitness510 18 vs VGT All-Stars 7 10:00 - TMP Elite 30 vs Big Blue 2 6 10:30 - VGT All-Stars 22 vs Lights Out 6 11:00 - TMP Elite 6 vs IamFitness510 12 11:30 - Big Blue 2 vs Lights Out (elimination game) Lights Out advances to playoffs. Speed Pod (Field 2) Family First Falcons 1-1 KT Rebel Red 1-1 916 Elite 1-1 Real Intense 0-2 VGT Elite 2-0 9:00 - Family First Falcons 12 vs 916 Elite 6 (OT) 9:30 - KT Rebel Red 12 vs Real Intense 0 10:00 - VGT Elite 39 vs Family First Falcons 14 10:30 - 916 Elite 19 vs KT Rebel Red 12 11:00 - VGT Elite 52 vs Real Intense 6 11:30 - Real Intense vs KT Rebel Red (elimination game) KT Rebel Red advances to playoffs. Power Pod (Field 3) Elevate Elite 2-0 Epic 7 West 2-0 KT D1 Elite Grey 1-1 SWAG Factory Ballers 0-2 TMP POG 0-2 9:00 - TMP POG 0 vs Epic 7 West 18 9:30 - Elevate Elite 18 vs SWAG Factory Ballers 12 10:00 - KT D1 Elite Grey 12 vs Epic 7 West 27 10:30 - TMP POG 16 vs Elevate Elite 25 11:00 - SWAG Factory Ballers 18 vs KT D1 Elite Grey 39 11:30 - SWAG Factory Ballers vs TMP Elite POG (elimination game) TMP Elite POG advances to playoffs. Agility Pod (Field 4) Good Game 1-1 KT D1 Elite Red 1-1 Malu Fitness 2-0 Top Flight Academy 0-2 Quick 6 Elite 1-1 9:00 - KT D1 Elite Red 34 vs Top Flight Academy 0 9:30 - Quick 6 Elite 12 vs Malu Fitness 26 10:00 - Top Flight Academy 6 vs Good Game 14 10:30 - KT D1 Elite Red 6 vs Malu Fitness 12 11:00 - Quick 6 Elite 15 vs Good Game 12 11:30 - open Top Flight Academy advances as KT D1 Elite forfeits playoff spot. Electrolytes Pod (Field 1) BTA Ghost 0-2 EForce Oregon Breed 2-0 Field Generals 2-0 Ranch 77’s Blue 0-2 12:00 - EForce Oregon Breed 32 vs Ranch ‘77s Blue 22 12:30 - BTA Ghost 19 vs Field Generals 28 1:00 - open 1:30 - EForce Oregon Breed 26 vs BTA Ghost 0 2:00 - Ranch 77’s Blue 19 vs Field Generals 20 2:30 - open Instinct Pod (Field 2) EForce Oregon Elite 2-0 G.A.P 1-1 Ranch 77’s Green 0-2 Real Neal 1-1 12:00 - Ranch 77’s Green 0 vs G.A.P 54 12:30 - Real Neal 0 vs EForce Oregon Elite 13 1:00 - open 1:30 - Real Neal 18 vs Ranch 77’s Green 0 2:00 - G.A.P 0 vs EForce Oregon Elite 21 2:30 - open Endurance Pod (Field 3) BTA 1-1 DB Guru 2-0 ESD-Memory Tag 0-2 True Grit Sports Warriors 1-1 12:00 - BTA 6 vs DB Guru 20 12:30 - True Grit Sports Warriors 28 vs ESD-Memory Tag 12 1:00 - open 1:30 - DB Guru 22 vs ESD-Memory Tag 6 2:00 - BTA 18 vs True Grit Sports Warriors 6 2:30 - open Impact Pod (Field 4) ATC 0-2 Diverse 2-0 EForce Oregon Select 1-1 ESD-Memory Tag 2 0-2 Wolfpack 1-1 12:00 - ATC 18 vs ESD-Memory Tag 2 6 12:30 - Wolfpack 6 vs Diverse 36 1:00 - EForce Oregon Select 33 vs ESD-Memory Tag 2 6 1:30 - ATC 12 vs Wolfpack 14 2:00 - EForce Oregon Select 13 vs Diverse 14 2:30 - ESD Memory Tag 2 vs ATC (elimination game) ATC advances to playoffs. 2:55 - 3:10 break
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Calabasas DB Shines at Passing Down4/2/2016 Film Study Pays Off for Radley-Hiles by Lorenzo Reyna Like most young people, Brendan Radley-Hiles of Calabasas High spends his spare time enjoying You Tube videos and says he wakes up early to go online. But he’s not watching a music video or something comedic. The Class of 2018 defensive back, who holds 11 reported NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision offers, is awake watching films on the top defensive backs in the NFL, gathering ideas on how to emulate his game after them. “I watch Malcolm Butler [of the New England Patriots] and all guys. I wake up at 6 a.m. in the morning to watch film and I watch from 6:15 to 7:30 a.m. every morning,” Radley-Hiles said. “I do it before school. This is what I do.” His preparation and his dexterity as a cornerback has turned him into one the most highly-coveted prospects for the ’18 class. Known as “Bookie” by his peers, Radley-Hiles emerged as Team Pro Way Hot Boyz’ top shutdown cornerback during their championship run on March 20 at Passing Down’s Southern California Regional in Fontana. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound corner, who transferred to Calabasas from Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman early in 2016, used his upper body strength and agile feet to lock up opposing wide receivers on the Ralph Lewis Sports Park sprint turf during the 62-team tourney. He won over scout.com’s Greg Biggins, as the national scout wrote this assessment of “Bookie” following the event: “Radley is one of the more physical corners on the circuit and plays with a nice edge to him. He does a nice job playing the ball in the air, is highly competitive and plays with a ton of confidence. He can close well and shows a nice burst getting out of his breaks. He wants that challenge of going against an opponent’s top receiver and we’ve seen that multiple times this winter. You have to have a little bit of a chip on your shoulder to play corner and Radley definitely has that. His recruitment has blown up and he’s holding offers from schools like the Florida Gators, Nebraska, Penn State Nittany Lions, Tennessee Volunteers and UCLA.” Arguably, Radley-Hiles’ best play came in the closing seconds of the title game against Ground Zero Panoramic. He was left one-on-one in the right corner of the end zone with his receiver as the football floated in their direction. What would’ve been a potential touchdown lob turned into a rejected shot from Radley-Hiles, who leaped into the sky, extended out his right hand and swatted the would-be touchdown to give Pro Way Hot Boyz the 14-6 victory. “It came on one of those bunch packages – the one that Malcolm Butler used to win the Super Bowl,” Radley-Hiles said. “I was anticipating it, so when they threw it up there, I wanted to make that play.” He’s known for making plays like that under the lights, justifying the reason why Power Five programs – including Ohio State and Georgia recently – are clamoring for him right away. Will Radley-Hiles wait until National Signing Day in 2018 to make his choice? Or seal his collegiate future by verbally committing somewhere early? “I plan on committing before my senior year. That’s what I’m looking at right now,” Radley-Hiles said.
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Pasadena Pair Rise to Occassion4/2/2016 Cousins Lead Rize Up at Passing Down by Lorenzo Reyna Cousins Jamire Calvin and Elijah Gates were big time dreamers growing up in Pasadena, Calif. before they became two of the most wanted college football recruits in Southern California. Both lived near the thunderous roar of the Rose Bowl that resonated throughout the city on fall weekends. They would spend their down time idolizing city prep stars and Passing Down alums David Long and DeSean Holmes, with the hope they would follow in their footsteps. Now, Calvin and Gates are the latest prep stars from “The ‘Dena,” proven by their combined 37 reported scholarship offers. Both recently returned to Passing Down on March 20 to show the Southern Californian slate how they stack up - plus show why they’re the most coveted cousins in the state. For Calvin, who holds 25 reported offers and stars at Los Angeles-Cathedral, he calls the recruiting process for both him and his cousin a blessing. “It kind of trips me out, but it’s a cool thing [to have these offers],” Calvin said. Added the Buena Park High stud Gates: “We’ve been working our whole life for this moment.” Both Class of 2017 prospects showed their dual capabilities at the Ralph Lewis Sports Park in Fontana. Calvin was an end zone machine for his team Rize Up and helped control his territory when called upon on defense. Gates provided some clutch catches and put the clamps on opposing wide receivers at cornerback. Calvin said they’ve picked their game up from watching those past ‘Dena standouts. “Growing up, we saw a lot of competition. A lot of great stars come out of Pasadena. Guys like Long and Holmes,” Calvin said. “We grew up with them and competed with them. They were like our older brothers. We go out and got better with them. We were always the younger guys who looked up to them to get better.” Now, Calvin and Gates look like mirror images of the Michigan commit Long and former San Diego State pledge Holmes. The latest City of Roses embodiments are known for burning defensive backs deep, returning kicks for the long gain and locking their territories up on defense. Calvin is currently projected to play receiver at the next level. Some of the colleges currently hunting him down are Maryland, Penn State, Colorado, Nebraska and Tennessee. Gates has been mainly recruited to play cornerback; UCLA and Oregon are two teams that like his defensive game. Both players said they rarely go against each other in practice. But when they do, both are good about bringing out the best in one another. “Going against him [Gates] means I’m going against one of the top DB’s,” Calvin said. “It’s a great way to improve your craft. He’s a lockdown corner. It’s as simple as that. Not a lot of people can get past him. He’s proven it himself.” Gates’ scouting report on Calvin was: “He’s smooth with his routes. Has great hands. Also has a high IQ for the game. He’s one of the great receivers. He pushes me to be better.” Their other inspiration comes from their big cousin who recently won an NFC title: Shaq Thompson of the Carolina Panthers, who also competed at PD before moving on to Washington and then Charlotte. “It’s great to look up to someone like that,” Calvin said. “He went to the Division I level and now he’s in the NFL. It’s great to look up to him.” Gates said: “We try to play just like him; and that’s being a dog on the field.” Both heralded recruits have no timetable for when they’ll make their college choice. Calvin and Gates want to take in some visits before making a decision. Any possibility both will play for the same university? “Hopefully we do end up at the same school. We don’t know which,” Gates said, laughing. For now, Calvin and Gates already know their place in their hometown’s lore: they’ve become the latest in a long assembly line of talented athletes from the L.A. County city. “It’s a blessing for us to be on that list of great athletes from Pasadena,” Gates said.
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Sophomore Woodbey Racking Up Offers3/31/2016
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Olaijah Griffin Carving His Own Name on the Field by Lorenzo Reyna Imagine Olaijah Griffin listening to the hit rap songs “Regulate,” “This DJ” and “Nobody Does It Better.” The Mission Viejo Class of 2018 star cornerback may bob his head to the tunes, but Griffin can also add this claim: he grew up with the lyricist spewing out the words in those hit singles. The world knows this voice as legendary West Coast rapper Warren G. The Passing Down alum Griffin knows him as dad. Griffin, who was one of several rising 2018 stars at Passing Down’s Southern California Regional on March 20 in Fontana, said his famous father was his first football mentor - all while juggling a work schedule that often included going on national tours and being inside the studio. “It was a great experience,” Griffin said regarding his younger days with his father. “I went on a couple of tours. We traveled across the country when I was a younger. It was hard for me to go to different places sometimes. But it was a great experience growing up. I’m now trying to make a name for myself.” When the three-time platinum recording artist wasn’t inside the studio, he went out to the field and threw the football with his future college football prospect. “I started when I was four-years-old running around the house carrying the football. He would then take me out on the field and gave me a tryout. He loves football,” Griffin said. Warren G was one of thousands of spectators who saw Griffin and his team, Ground Zero Panoramic, make another run for the So Cal regional title. While Panoramic fell short in a dramatic 14-6 loss to the champion Pro Way Hot Boyz, Griffin rarely saw the football come his way. It was because Griffin emerged as Panoramic’s latest island cornerback creation from Armond Hawkins and Anthony Brown. Griffin hovered over and followed receivers like an eagle flying by and then cornering its prey. His speed and wingspan got opposing quarterbacks to throw away from his side on multiple occasions. Except when that happened, Griffin’s other heralded teammates Thomas Graham and Jaiden Woodbey were there to snatch the pigskin or create an incompletion. Griffin was one of a handful of Ground Zero players who entered the Ralph Lewis Sports Park complex with scholarship offers in tow. Cal, UCLA, Colorado State and Oregon are four reported schools that have made an early pursuit of him with the latter becoming the first program to offer him. He said one nearby university has an assistant coach who’s in constant contact with him. “I’ve been talking to coach Meetch (Demetrius Martin of UCLA) a lot. I’ve been having some good conversations with him,” Griffin said. “He tells me about the program and he keeps me up to date on their defense and the players they produce.” Griffin, who first entered Passing Down as an eighth grader, said his early success on the football field amazes him. “When I was younger, I didn’t think I was going to get big like this. But it happened. Just by working hard and being around the right people,” Griffin said. Going to Passing Down at a young age helped mold the Mission Viejo corner. “Ever since I came here as an eighth grader, it’s helped me get better before high school,” Griffin said. “I was going against great players early and it gave me a good experience.” Now, part of his resume includes winning a state title – which he got as an underclassmen on an undefeated Diablos team. “It was crazy. I was a sophomore winning the state championship,” Griffin said, who contributed to the MV defense last fall. “It was huge because it was the first time we won state at Mission Viejo.” Even though he’s emerged as a football stud from a famous musician, Griffin describes himself as religious; proven by what his ritual is before games. “I first pray to God,” Griffin said. “I go in there with the hope I can lock up anybody no matter. I go out there thinking I’m going to get three picks a game - just thinking big.” Along with guidance from his father, he’s received assistance from two of Ground Zero’s oldest members: USC commits Graham and Stephen Carr. “It’s a great atmosphere. I got a bunch of leaders out there like Thomas and Stephen. They teach me a lot of stuff like peer steps,” Griffin said. As the college football recruiting world soon awaits where Griffin will continue his career at, is there the added feeling that Warren G would like to see his son wear the colors of his favorite NFL team the Oakland Raiders if a pro career comes calling? “I’m pretty sure he wants me to. I never asked him that,” Griffin said, smiling. In the meantime, while most hip-hop fans continue to listen to Warren G’s hit music, Griffin is thankful that he has a supportive fan in his father. “Most of the time with where I’m at, he’s there,” Griffin said.
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Keyshawn Johnson Jr. Helps Proway to SoCal Championship by Lorenzo Reyna Keyshawn Johnson Jr. said he “Wanted to blaze his own path” in his commitment video via Bleacher Report that was released on Wednesday, March 23. That path will soon take the son of the renown USC and NFL star to Lincoln, Neb., as the Passing Down alum and Calabasas High star wide receiver chose the Nebraska Cornhuskers as his future college team, ending one of the most watched recruiting processes for the Class of 2017. Just three days prior to making his decision, Johnson Jr. provided some clutch catches and fearlessness across the middle of the field for his club team Pro Way Hot Boyz, who breezed through the ultra-competitive 62-team field and took home Passing Down’s Southern California Regional championship at Fontana’s Ralph Lewis Sports Park. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound target, who is listed as a 4-Star prospect among national recruiting websites, emerged as the underneath security blanket for the SoCal champs. He showed his dependable hands, an incredible focus with timing his routes and catches and lastly, showed a strong burst off the line of scrimmage. The younger Johnson’s verbal commitment to the Big 10 school is significant for Nebraska in three ways. 1) Johnson Jr. is the first 4-Star receiver commit for Nebraska since Jordan Westerkamp joined the ‘Huskers in 2012; the same Westerkamp who has emerged as an All-Big 10 selection and Fred Biletnikoff Award watch list nominee. 2) Johnson Jr. gives the 6-7 Cornhuskers some star power in Lincoln. His name and field potential could give Nebraska its most popular football star since Ndamukong Suh wore the red and white. 3) Johnson Jr. committing to Nebraska is not only considered a recruiting coup for head coach Mike Riley, but a big time pickup for receivers coach Keith Williams. Known as “Dub” among his peers, Williams has helped send eight of his former receivers to the NFL. Johnson Jr. turned down offers from Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and his dad’s alma mater USC to join Nebraska’s 2017 class. He’s expected to join former Passing Down alums Patrick O’Brien (B2G 5-Star) and Lavan Alston (B2G 5-Star) in the Great Plains.
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No Stopping Carr3/23/2016
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FONTANA, CA. – Armed with some of the most highly recruited players at quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback, Team Pro Way Hot Boyz survived Passing Down’s most intense gauntlet yet at Ralph Lewis Sports Park in Fontana: a record 62-team field filled with verbal commits and the best high school players west of the Grand Canyon.
The Calabasas based team that’s owned and managed by former NFL player Darick Holmes went undefeated in the March 20 Southern California regional, culminating in a climatic 14-6 victory over Ground Zero Panoramic in the championship game. “It was a lot of work and extraordinary for us to come out here. We did tremendous today and won almost nine games without a loss today,” tournament Most Valuable Player Tyjon Lindsey said, who provided the most clutch catches and electrifying touchdown celebrations throughout the day. In the title game, the 5-foot-9, 161-pound slot receiver executed a slant route against a loaded Ground Zero secondary that featured top prospects Olaijah Griffin (four scholarship offers including Oregon and UCLA) and Jaiden Woodbey (10 offers including Louisville). Lindsey, though, executed a double move in man coverage, cut right and found himself open in the end zone to put Pro Way ahead for good. He then busted out a cartwheel and two backflips in celebration; which was his trademark dance throughout the regional. “It was a 2-yard play, but it was a big play because we had to drive 70 yards and show that we have the stamina to do it. We wore them out,” Lindsey said. “If I didn’t catch that, they could’ve scored and this trophy wouldn’t be in my hands and our team trophy wouldn’t be in our hands.” Lindsey, who holds 23 reported offers and is listed as one of the top slot wideouts in the nation according to different media scouting websites, was one of three big time targets at the disposal of Tristan Gebbia. The Calabasas High 2017 quarterback – who has Ole Miss, Alabama and Washington trying to court him – spread the ball around to Lindsey, Keyshawn Johnson Jr. and tall 6-foot-3 target Brian Hightower, who flew all the way from Florida to be with his Pro Way teammates. Defensively, Brendan “Bookie” Radley-Hiles provided a crucial swat in the end zone toward the end of the title game. “I played off by seven or eight yards (that play). I stayed with the quarterback the whole time. He shot the ball my way and I broke up the pass on a slant route. When I saw the ball, I wanted to make that play,” Radley-Hiles said. Along with assistance from fellow top defensive recruits Darnay Holmes, Marques Evans and Cameron Trimble, the 2018 prospect with nine offers helped charge a defense that slowed down a dynamic Ground Zero offense led by USC running back commit Stephen Carr. “This title was for the city (of Calabasas). We put on for the whole state, but primarily the south side. It shows who the best out here is,” Radley-Hiles said. Radley-Hiles, who transferred to Calabasas High from Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman recently, thanked Holmes for putting him on the Pro Way. “That’s the man with the plan,” Radley-Hiles said. “He welcomed me with open arms. He told me ‘Make plays and I’ll help get you out (to colleges),’” Radley-Hiles said. By Lorenzo Reyna |