DJ Uiagalelei shines, Long Beach Poly surprises: Top performers from Edison High School football passing tournament

Twenty Los Angeles area high school football teams competed at Edison High School's annual Battle at the Beach passing tournament Saturday, June 29. Mater Dei defeated St. John Bosco 24-12 to win the title.

Check out the tournament standouts and surprises below.

Best quarterback: DJ Uiagalelei, St. John Bosco

Even though St. John Bosco fell short in the title game, Uiagalelei had a great tournament. In the quarterfinal round, the 2020 Clemson commit’s first throw was a 30-yard bullet to Logan Loya for a touchdown. In the semifinals, Uiagalelei overcame an early interception to lead the Braves to a win over Servite. He threw touchdown passes to Loya and Beaux Collins in the victory.

Best defensive back: Jaylin Davies, Mater Dei

Davies played lockdown defense against every receiver he was matched up against at Edison. The 2021 cornerback had an interception against Norco in pool play. In the championship game, he anchored a defense that allowed just twelve points against St. John Bosco’s star-studded offense.

Best receiver: Logan Loya, St. John Bosco

In the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game Loya did not drop a ball. Against Narbonne in the quarters, the 2020 wide out hauled in a touchdown and then the conversion. He did the same against Servite in the semifinals.

Best running back: Chris Street, JSerra

Running backs don’t always get a lot of touches at passing tournaments, but Street is an exception. The 2020 Cal commit caught a touchdown against Rancho Cucamonga and hauled in several passes out of the backfield Saturday.

Best underclassmen: QB Noah Fifita and WR Tetairoa McMillan,
Servite

The 2022 duo led Servite to the semifinals of the gold division. McMillan hauled in a handful of touchdowns from Fifita on the day including a jump ball score against St. John Bosco. Fifita looked solid throwing on the run all afternoon and McMillan was his main target.

Most clutch performer: CJ Williams, Mater Dei

Whenever the Monarchs needed to make a play, it seemed like Williams made it. The 2022 receiver caught a huge third down conversion in the championship game. He also snagged the title game’s opening score.

Best connection: QB Jake Garcia to WR Eren East, Narbonne

Even though Narbonne fell in the quarters to St. John Bosco, the
Garcia-to-East connection flourished. East caught a touchdown in the game and
then brought in the conversion. He caught ten passes in the defeat.

Best play: WR Beaux Collins, St. John Bosco

Collins put on a show at Edison Saturday. The 2021 receiver made a
couple of one-handed touchdown grabs. Check out one of them below.

Biggest surprise team: Long Beach Poly The Jackrabbits advanced all the way to the semifinals of the gold division before losing to eventual champion Mater Dei. 2022 quarterback Shea Kuykendall’s favorite target was 2021 receiver Keyonta Lanier. Defensively, Long Beach Poly held both Servite and Cathedral San Diego to single digits in pool play.