HUNTINGTON BEACH – Even from afar Saturday, it seemed clear that Santa Margarita’s KJ Costello received positive words from several St. John Bosco players as he navigated the teams’ postgame handshake at the Edison passing tournament.
The junior-to-be quarterback comfortably chatted with a cluster of his Trinity League rivals after they clashed in the semifinals.
St. John Bosco prevailed, 25-14, but the revamped and re-energized Eagles won plenty of respect at the 20-team “Battle of the Beach” tournament.
“I have all the respect in the world for Bosco,” Costello said. “They have respect for our team and what we do. They’re the No. 1 team in the country and we did put up a fight. They’re good guys on top of being the top dogs.”
Hart of Newhall and quarterback Brady White (Arizona State commit) defeated reigning state champion St. John Bosco, 19-13, in the final, but it was hard not to recognize the Eagles and first-year coach Rick Curtis.
Despite playing without their top receiver, Kyle Sweet, and safety/H-back Rick Ellison, they made a deep run at arguably the toughest Southern California 7-on-7 passing event of the summer.
After the Braves and UCLA commit quarterback Josh Rosen scored the first two touchdowns, Costello helped the Eagles make it a competitive game. The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder rifled a touchdown pass of about 20 yards to tight end Rick Wade (6-5, 245).
Costello later showed his touch by lofting a touchdown pass to a leaping Dre Hall in the back of the end zone.
“He’s got a great arm,” Curtis said of Costello. “He had a great day.”
Hall (5-10, 215), a junior running back, is a recent transfer from J.W. North of Riverside, Curtis said.
With Sweet out the last several weeks because of a bruised spleen, Conner Bianchini (6-2, 200) emerged as the Eagles’ top receiver Saturday, making several tough catches.
“He’s going to be a great player for us,” Curtis said of the senior-to-be. “Him getting confidence will help us spread the ball around. Without Kyle Sweet, he’s the guy we had to go to today.”
Said Costello of Bianchini: “He’s going to shock some people this year.”
Ellison (stomach) was injured early Saturday but Santa Margarita’s Metro Malsavage (5-10, 170) emerged as another target for Costello. Linebacker Austin Barrette (6-0, 210) helped lead the defense by breaking up a few passes.
“Even though we’re not the most athletic or skilled, we play hard,” said Wade, who has been offered by UCLA and Oregon among others. “We’re a force to be reckoned with.”
Santa Margarita finished 4-6 overall and 1-4 in league in 2013 during Coach Harry Welch’s final season. Welch was among those who watched the Eagles’ new-look spread attack – with Wade at tight end — in the semifinals Saturday.
“We were looking for this kind of day for our confidence,” Curtis said.
In pool play, Santa Margarita beat Mission Hills and Glendora and lost to Upland. The Eagles then beat JSerra in a knockout game and Westlake in the quarterfinals.
“It’s awesome,” Costello said. “I really think we’re taking big strides and trying not to go backwards. We really got some dudes this year, and I feel like we really can do some big things.”
RISING EAGLE
Costello said his list of scholarship offers stands at 15 after Florida offered last week. He plans to take unofficial trips to UCLA, Stanford and Arizona State during a recruiting swing July 25-27.
NOTES
St. John Bosco’s squad featured Mater Dei transfer cornerback Mykal Tolliver (5-11, 170), Braves coach Jason Negro said. “Played really well,” Negro said of the junior-to-be. Orange Lutheran defensive tackle Iosefo Savelio (5-11, 250) also has transferred to St. John Bosco, Negro confirmed. The Braves return three starters on defense.
Negro on the Eagles: “I think they had a lot of energy. They’re going to be a good team.”
Tesoro quarterback Jack Telenko (6-1, 185) has transferred to Los Alamitos, which edged St. John Bosco, 20-19, in pool play. Telenko is competing with Dickie Brown, who also plays corner. “He got a baptism today,” Los Al coach John Barnes said of Telenko, who will be a junior. …
Barnes said the Griffins’ quarterback this fall will need some mobility. “I’m not a four wide out team,” said Barnes, whose teams have traditionally stressed the passing game. …
While Hart defeated Mater Dei, 21-0, in the quarterfinals, the Monarchs’ Ben Humphreys (6-2, 205) stood out. The senior-to-be played outside linebacker last season but has moved to safety on defense. “I moved to free safety this year because we have a solid front-seven,” Humphreys said. “I played free safety my freshman year, so I’m used to it back there. It’s going to be fun. I might even play safety in college.”
Humphreys has been offered by every Pac-12 school except USC, UCLA, Stanford and Oregon. Arizona is the most recent school to offer.
Mater Dei quarterback Jack Lowary displayed a strong arm. “He’s had a cannon since eighth grade,” Humphreys said. “He’s been waiting his turn.”
Lowary’s brother, Grant, is a junior-to-be quarterback at Edison. …
Mater Dei sophomore-to-be corner Jalen Cole could be a name to remember. …
Edison showed potential despite a few narrow losses. In pool play, the Chargers fell to Narbonne in overtime and lost to Hart and Mater Dei on the final plays. “We’re right there, but we’re not quite consistent enough,” Edison coach Dave White said.
White said senior-to-be wide receiver/safety Jake Favreau (6-0, 180) was one of the Charges’ standouts Saturday. …
Mayfair junior-to-be tight end Chris Brown (6-2, 215) has transferred to La Habra, Highlanders coach Frank Mazzotta said.
