Top tandems

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Quick, which teams in the Westside, South Bay and Long Beach regions of L.A. County have the top pass-catch combos?

If you answered Gahr and Chadwick, you’re doing pretty well, just like those teams, statistically speaking.

Not only do they boast the top passers in the region, they also have some of the best quarterback-receiver duos in the state, according to MaxPreps.com.

Cerritos Gahr junior quarterback Corey Nielsen is the top-ranked passer in the state, while Chadwick senior Andy Magee is fifth on the list.

Nielsen has completed 94 of 144 passes for 1,919 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions. He averages a state-leading 383.8 passing yards a game.

Nielsen, who will lead the Gladiators (4-1) in a nonleague matchup at defending Southern Section Western Division champion Dominguez on Friday, helped himself last week by completing 16 of 28 passes for 455 yards and five touchdowns in a 40-7 victory over Apple Valley Granite Hills.

His primary targets, Deondre Powell and Aaron Bradley, are among the top receivers in the state. Powell, a junior, has a team-leading 29 catches for 515 yards and six touchdowns. He ranks 22nd in the state. Bradley, also a junior, is at No. 52 in the state with 17 receptions for 451 yards and seven touchdowns.

Magee has completed 100 of 134 passes (74.6%) for 1,629 yards with 27 touchdowns and five interceptions. His primary target is Tim Watson, a senior who is fourth on the state list with 36 receptions for 739 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Chadwick (5-0) routed Linfield Christian, 60-28, last week and puts its perfect record on the line in a Prep League opener at Webb on Saturday.

- Lauren Peterson