No. 2 seeded Laguna Beach uses strong passing game to get past Northwood 34-13 in Division 12 quarterfinal playoffs

Shane Lythgoe of Laguna Beach celebrates after scoring a TD in the third quarter. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Laguna Beach’s passing game was too much for Northwood to handle Friday night in the quarterfinal round of the CIF Division 12 playoffs Friday night at Irvine Stadium.

The Breakers junior quarterback Andrew Johnson passed for four touchdowns and 314 yards to help his team move into the semifinals next Friday night on the road against Artesia.

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No. 2-seeded Laguna Beach led 13-7 at halftime, then took advantage of Northwood turnovers and penalties in the second half to break the game open and win 34-13.

Laguna Beach (10-2) had a hard time initially running against Northwood’s outstanding lineman Xavier Cousar so the Breakers made an adjustment.

“It’s a good win. We had a hard time running the ball, so we said, ‘we’re just going to throw it and throw it and throw it’ and hopefully we make some big plays and we did,” said Laguna Beach Coach John Shanahan. “The dam kind of burst there late in the third quarter and we got a big win.

“That’s a huge win for our school to get to the semifinals, it doesn’t happen very much at Laguna Beach. We’re pretty happy about it. We were in the semifinals two years ago, but I think it’s only been six or seven times in the history of the school. We’re hoping to make a little run and get to the finals.”

Johnson hooked up with Sean Nolan on three touchdown passes, the first an 8-yard TD in the first quarter.

“He’s our guy, not just football,” Shanahan said. “He’s a tennis guy, he’s competitive, he’s tough and he’s getting better and better every week. He does a lot of good things for us.”

Northwood (8-4) tied it up on a 1-yard TD run by Daniel Kim midway through the second quarter.

The Breakers moved ahead 13-7 on a 63-yard TD from Johnson to Nolan late in the first half.

In the second half, Northwood struggled with penalties and turnovers and Laguna Beach cashed in the miscues.

Johnson hooked up with Nolan on a 35-yard TD pass midway through the third quarter to make it 20-7. Laguna Beach extended its lead to 27-7 on a 3-yard run by Shane Lythgoe and sealed the win when Johnson connected with Kai Ball on a 34-yard TD pass.

“I think just everyone knowing a big game was coming up and going 100 percent in practice and practicing like we’re going to play because in the end if you’re not practicing, then you’re not going to be able to do it in a game,” Johnson said. “Every one on our team goes 100 percent in practice. And what really makes it us those guys who the starters go against. They give us a really good look and they’re ultimately the ones who allow us to execute what we need to do so well, on Friday nights, our scout team players.”

Nolan had a sensational night with six catches for 153 yards and three touchdowns.

With the game out of reach, Northwood cut the lead to 34-13 on an 11-yard TD pass from Tanner Buck to Travis Arena with 6:27 left.

It was a tough night for Northwood, which had five turnovers.

Starting quarterback Jaden Piazza passed for 184 yards but threw two interceptions. Buck passed for 70 yards but was also intercepted twice and the Timberwolves only generated 25 rushing yards. Key penalties on offense and defense at inopportune times also hurt Northwood.

STATS

LB               07    06    14    07    –   34

NW            00    07     00   06     –   13

RUSHING: LB Lythgoe 12-48, Tyrell 1-5; NW Mould 5-10; Kim 5-8

PASSING: LB Johnson 17-30-2, 4 TDs, 314 yards; NW Piazzam 10-16-2, 184 yards; Buck 5-11-2, 70 yards

RECEIVING: LB Nolan 6-153; Ball 4-76; NW Arena 8-107, L. Demaio 4-47.

Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone