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  • Orange Lutheran's LJ Northington releases a pass during a Surf...

    Orange Lutheran's LJ Northington releases a pass during a Surf City Passing Tournament game against Buena Park on Saturday at Huntington Beach High School.

  • Buena Park's Derrick Corso, front, attempts to evade the pressure...

    Buena Park's Derrick Corso, front, attempts to evade the pressure from Orange Lutheran's TJ Augustin during Saturday's Surf City Passing Tournament at Huntington Beach High School.

  • Orange Lutheran's JD Pickell, left, hauls in a pass while...

    Orange Lutheran's JD Pickell, left, hauls in a pass while under pressure from Buena Park's Niguy Simms during Saturday's Surf City Passing Tournament at Huntington Beach High School.

  • Buena Park's Zachary Taylor throws the ball downfield during a...

    Buena Park's Zachary Taylor throws the ball downfield during a Surf City Passing Tournament game against Buena Park on Saturday at Huntington Beach High School.

  • Orange Lutheran's Jayelon Blandburg rushes downfield during a Surf City...

    Orange Lutheran's Jayelon Blandburg rushes downfield during a Surf City Passing Tournament game against Buena Park on Saturday at Huntington Beach High School.

  • Orange Lutheran's Markell Quinn, left, hauls in a pass from...

    Orange Lutheran's Markell Quinn, left, hauls in a pass from LJ Northington during a Surf City Passing Tournament game against Buena Park on Saturday at Huntington Beach High School.

  • Buena Park's Deshaun Harvey prepares to release a pass during...

    Buena Park's Deshaun Harvey prepares to release a pass during a Surf City Passing Tournament game against Orange Lutheran at Huntington Beach High School.

  • Orange Lutheran's KJ Walker, left, and Kendall Hollowell break up...

    Orange Lutheran's KJ Walker, left, and Kendall Hollowell break up a pass intended for Buena Park's Jaylinn Hawkins, back, during Saturday's Surf City Passing Tournament at Huntington Beach High School.

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HUNTINGTON BEACH – Tesoro’s defense struggled mightily in a semifinal loss to Bishop Amat of La Puente in the Surf City passing tournament at Huntington Beach High on Saturday.

The Titans’ defense came together in the tournament’s third-place game as they picked off Santa Margarita quarterback KJ Costello four times to help Tesoro claim a 50-32 win.

The third-place finish by the Titans was the best finish for any county team in the tournament.

“Our offense from start to finish did really well in every game,” Tesoro coach Matt Poston said. “In the semifinal game, defensively we struggled. To come back and rebound from that … and for them to step up and make those plays, it kind of separated us a little bit.”

Junior quarterback Devon Modster was a standout for the Titans.

Modster, who is listed at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, was surgical in the way he picked apart opposing defenses, and looked like he’s benefitting from having a year of starting experience under his belt.

He hooked up with receiver Jake Smeltzer numerous times Saturday.

The addition of Anthony Battista, who transferred from Corona del Mar, will make Tesoro’s offense quite formidable come the fall.

“We’re excited about what our offense could do,” Poston said.

The Titans went 3-2 during the tournament, as they beat San Clemente, Orange Lutheran and the Eagles, while falling to El Toro and the Bishop Amat.

St. John Bosco went 5-0 during the tournament and beat Bishop Amat in the final to take first. The Braves finished second — to Hart — at Edison’s “Battle at the Beach” passing tournament last week.

At the Edison passing tournament, Santa Margarita fell to St. John Bosco in the semifinals. The Eagles suffered the same fate on Saturday, as they fell to the Braves, 28-20, in the semis.

OILERS’ JAMES IMPRESSIVE

Huntington Beach lost quarterback Kai Ross, last year’s Register Offensive Player of the Year, to graduation. In to replace Ross for the Oilers is 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior Chad James.

James helped the Oilers to a 10th-place finish and looked impressive against Riverside Poly, which lost to Huntington Beach, 36-12.

“He’s been throwing really well,” Oilers coach Eric Lo said. “He kind of struggled a little bit in our first game against Buena Park … everything is experience for him, so we just need to keep that rolling.”

James will have large targets to throw to this season in 6-foot-4 receiver Nolan Thompson and 6-foot-6 tight end Nick Crabtree.

TUSTIN’S WILSON STANDS OUT

Fresh off committing to Utah, Tustin receiver George Wilson was quite impressive on Saturday.

Wilson, who also plays basketball, displayed a knack for going up and getting the ball when it was thrown to him.

Tustin went 1-4 at the tournament, but Wilson was a bright spot and should improve on his 28 receptions for 552 yards that he posted a year ago.

Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com