Football: A Valencia receiver who causes pain for defensive backs

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Feel sympathy for the defensive backs who have to cover Valencia’s 6-foot-2, 215-pound sophomore receiver Jay Jay Wilson in summer passing competitions. When they bang into Wilson, it hurts. Twice on Wednesday night in a four-team competition, defensive backs went down after collisions with Wilson.

Wilson could be a twin for Mater Dei’s Thomas Duarte, another muscular, aggressive receiver. It’s exciting for Valencia fans to think just how good Wilson might become as he adds speed and strength after playing on varsity last season as a freshman. What’s clear is he’s a load to deal with.

Alemany, Oaks Christian and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame played games at Valencia on Wednesday. Oaks Christian junior quarterback Brandon Dawkins, who has a college scholarship offer from Notre Dame, looked like the old Brandon Dawkins after not playing particularly well on Saturday at Dana Hills. He was throwing the ball deep and accurately, and it helped to have receiver Francis Owusu catching passes.

Alemany remains above all the teams at this point because of its receiver talent and the steadiness of quarterback Devon Dunn. Notre Dame was missing three defensive backs, and state sprint champion Khalfani Muhammad probably won’t be seen much this summer as he finishes track commitments. Linebacker JJ Muno was all over the field as usual.

-- Eric Sondheimer