Defensive end Alex Hernandez leaves Damien, transfers back to Charter Oak …

Here’s one from the “say what!” file: Defensive end Alex Hernandez, who left Charter Oak after the 2010 season and transferred to Damien has now left Damien and gone back to Charter Oak for his senior season.

Hernandez had 47 tackles and five sacks last season at Damien and enters this season as one of the top defensive linemen in the area.

Aram’s take: So I guess it’s time for me to say again what I said when Hernandez left CO for Damien, but this time in reverse: Big blow for Damien. Can’t afford to lose guys in the trenches if you’re the Spartans. And of course, this is a big coup for Charter Oak, which already had what figures to be the top defense in the area when all hands are on deck, i.e. when Andrew Hauser has his eligibility restored. Combining Hernandez and Hauser is quite scary. Not to mention all the other studs CO has back on defense.

Damien beats Ayala to win Ayala Tournament … Gano calls Josh Savage “best receiver in the Valley”

Damien beat Ayala in the championship game of Saturday’s Ayala Tournament.

“We looked okay,” Damien coach Greg Gano said of the win. “We did some good things. But it doesn’t mean anything. We have to see if we can compete and this means we can compete a little bit. But I know we’ve got some skill kids who can do good things.”

Gano later went on to call receiver Josh Savage the best receiver in the Valley. He also singled out quarterback Gage Pucci, cornerback Jonathan Lyles and brothers Nick and Alex Sherwood for having strong performances.

For Ayala, it was another good showing after the Bulldogs did damage in the conso bracket of the Bonita Air Assault last week.

Aram’s take: I said in a previous All-Encompassing SGV(N) Top 25 that Damien could wind up being the No. 1 team in the SGV(N) by the time summer was said and done. Saturday’s showing, albeit against not the strongest overall field in the world, is a step in that direction. I’m hearing from all places about how loaded Damien is this season.

La Mirada pair gets offers …

La Mirada tight end Tyler Luatua, a junior, has received an offer from Michigan. Matadores offensive lineman Spencer Ueli Fa’atoalia, a senior, was offered by Hawaii on Wednesday.

Aram’s take: La Mirada is starting to look pretty scary in the Southeast.