MISSION VIEJO – Notes from the South practice Tuesday night for the Brea Lions Orange County All-Star Game at Orange Coast College on Thursday:
• The South pushed the tempo of its multiple spread attack during practice at Capistrano Valley. The unit looked diverse and dangerous with quarterback Gavin Pruett of Capistrano Valley, running back Cole Martin of Corona del Mar and a deep receiving group led by Santa Margarita’s Conner Bianchini, Corona del Mar’s duo of Cole Collins and Bo St. Geme and Edison’s Jake Favreau and Aliso Niguel’s Remy Wasserbach.
Martin broke about a 25-yard TD run in team exercises.
• Pruett (6-0, 195) played well in his first year as a starter at Capistrano Valley last season and led the East to a victory in the recent 605 all-star game. The QB has bounced around during high school, attending Santa Margarita, Mater Dei and San Clemente.
But with the South, Pruett has reconnected with Bianchini, one of his targets on the Santa Margarita freshman team and a regular practice partner. Pruett said is he grateful for Bianchini’s friendship, joking “especially when you have friends that are 6-foot-3 and Division 1-bound.” Bianchini is bound for Lehigh.
Pruett plans to attend Milford Academy in New York, a move that he says won’t zap his college eligibility.
• First-team All-County selection Zach Hickman of Tesoro played left tackle in the team exercise Tuesday but could see action at left tackle or guard in the game, South coach Ernie Bucher of Capo Valley said. Huntington Beach’s Quinn Hudak (Penn) will man right tackle.
• Tesoro defensive back Josh Nelson ended practice with an interception.
• South players who have surprised Bucher: Santa Margarita center Jack Jennison and JSerra defensive tackle Joe Munroe. And while Bucher isn’t surprised by the physical play of his outside linebacker, Jimmy Grasso, fans might be Thursday. The 5-foot-9, 160-pounder from Capo Valley had three of the biggest hits in practice Monday.
