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  • JSerra defeated Upland, 19-13, to capture the Air Strike passing...

    JSerra defeated Upland, 19-13, to capture the Air Strike passing tournament at Dana Hills on Saturday.

  • JSerra quarterback Nick Robinson delivers a pass against Upland in...

    JSerra quarterback Nick Robinson delivers a pass against Upland in the finals of the Air Strike passing tournament Saturday at Dana Hills.

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Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Staff Mug Shot taken August 26, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

DANA POINT – Senior-to-be quarterback Nick Robinson threw a touchdown to wide receiver Sam Philippi on the second play of overtime Saturday to help lift JSerra past Upland, 19-13, in the finals of the Air Strike passing tournament at Dana Hills.

JSerra, which made its tournament debut, sealed the victory when cornerback Ethan Aguayo broke up a pass in the end zone on the ensuing possession.

“It’s a great tournament and we got a chance to come out and compete and we played to the best of our potential,” Robinson said. “This is a good way to start (our summer).”

Displaying an accurate arm and the ability to look off defenders, Robinson (6-2, 205) threw touchdown passes to running back/safety Aaron Matthews and Aguayo to highlight the Lions’ six possessions during regulation. Aguayo made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone.

Robinson also completed a tough third-down pass to sophomore-to-be Riley O’Brien and had a long touchdown pass to Isaiah Diego-Williams nullified because of a time-limit sack.

“Someone is going to be lucky to get him at the next level,” JSerra coach Jim Hartigan said of Robinson, who has offers from Florida International and Holy Cross, among others. “He is continuing to progress.”

Aguayo also intercepted Washington State commit Tyler Hilinski on Upland’s first possession.

JSerra avenged a 32-19 loss to Upland earlier in the tournament.

The emergence of Philippi, Matthews, O’Brien and Diego-Williams was encouraging for the Lions, who graduated top skill players such as wide receiver Dante Pettis and versatile running back Casey Eugenio.

Matthews and Philippi also played safety while Aguayo and Diego-Williams were the cornerbacks. Philippi also had a late interception.

“We played against a lot of good skill (players),” Hartigan said of Upland, which also featured Washington State commit Kameron Powell at safety and touted sophomore running back/receiver Nathan Tilford, who landed a scholarship offer from USC as an eighth grader.

Robinson was especially impressed with O’Brien.

“He had the best day out of anyone here,” Robinson said.

Robinson said of Aguayo, “Aguayo is a stud. He can play.”

JSerra finished 7-3 last season and tied for third in the Trinity League but missed the Pac-5 Division playoffs. Some thought the Lions deserved an at-large bid but it never arrived.

“We’re going to make the playoffs (this season) — that’s our goal,” Robinson said.

Said Hartigan, “We should be better in a lot of areas.”

In the semifinals, JSerra defeated Dana Hills, 26-13, while Upland held off Servite, 28-21. The Friars almost scored a late touchdown that could have made things interesting.

“It wasn’t bad,” Servite coach A.J. Gass said of the Friars’ day. “We saw some areas that we have to address.”

Gass said junior-to-be safety Tre Webb was one of the Friars’ breakout performers.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com