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HUNTINGTON BEACH — The playmakers were again plentiful at the Battle at the Beach passing tournament Saturday but one team featured a duo who excelled on both sides of the ball.
Seniors Jacob Martin and Jake Minter delivered numerous big plays at wide receiver and defensive back to help Edison reach the semifinals of its annual summer tournament.
St. John Bosco rallied to defeat the Chargers in the semifinals but the combination of Martin and Minter sill left its mark. They played like Orange County standouts after earning first-team All-Sunset League honors last season.
“We’ve got a team that’s come a long way so it’s been fun,” said Edison football coach Jeff Grady, whose squad finished 6-5 in 2023. “A lot of guys have developed and put a lot time in (the weight room) and it means something to them, which is always cool for us.”
“That (semifinal game) just got away from us,” Minter added. “Just tiny mistakes. When you go against a team like Bosco, it’s going to show. Overall, I think we did really good. I loved our run.”
In a 27-21 loss against St. John Bosco, Martin caught the first of three touchdown passes by improved senior quarterback Savelio Niumata.
After an interception by junior Jordan Pelaez and another TD pass by Niumata, Minter made a leaping catch for a score that opened a 21-13 lead for the Chargers.
Throughout the tournament, Martin also shined at cornerback while Minter teamed at safety with senior Gavin Slaughter.
“It’s fun,” Martin said of playing both ways. “I like being able to compete on both sides of the ball. If I’m not able to contribute on one side, I know I can on the other. It’s always some action so I like it.”
“It’s just makes you better as a whole player,” Minter added of playing ways.
In pool play, Edison outscored Centennial Corona, Liberty of Bakersfield, St. Bonaventure and Clovis North 102-25 to finish 4-0 and post the best point-differential (plus-77) entering the playoffs.
The Chargers defeated JSerra 23-7 in the quarterfinals.
It was an impressive run for an Edison squad also features one of the best running back in the county in Julius Gillick, a Montana commit.
This fall, Edison is headed the new Alpha League that includes San Clemente, Mission Viejo and Los Alamitos.
“We a lot of stuff we can prove to people,” Martin said. “Not only people but to ourselves to show that we can play with some of these teams and compete. So I’m really excited.”
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