November 4, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

PHOTOS: Trabuco Hills returns opening kickoff 93 yards and defeats Pacifica 44-34

Chris Crow of Trabuco Hills addresses his teammates Friday night. (Photos courtesy Trabuco Hills football/Rob Cuddy, For OC Sports Zone)

Trabuco Hills High’s football team notched its second victory out of the gate, defeating Pacifica 44-34 in a nonleague game Friday night at Bolsa Grande.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

“So proud of our team,” said Mustangs’ first-year Coach Mark Nolan. “These guys love the process and we are working so hard to create a new culture and return the Mustangs to a championship contender status. These Mustangs have something to prove.”

Trabuco Hills came out fired up. Drew Barrett returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown. Pacifica answered with a 70 yard drive. Isaiah Blevins scored on an 8-yard TD run and the conversion failed.

The Mustangs Jason Smaler then hooked up with Jake Naso for a TD pass to make it 13-6.

In the second quarter, Darius Cowens made a 15-yard pass to Blevins for a touchdown to cut the lead to 13-12.

Cowens then hooked up with Jamal Fisher on a 73-yard TD pass to put Pacifica ahead 20-13 following the 2-point conversion.

Trabuco Hills countered on a rushing TD by Luke Falcetti to tie the score.  Luke Holland then had a field goal to put the Mustangs ahead 23-20.

With minute remaining in the first half, Trabuco Hills recovered a Pacifica fumble inside the 20-yard line. Barrett then ran the ball in for a touchdown and Trabuco Hills led 30-20 at halftime.

In the second half, Smaler hit Naso again on a touchdown pass to put Trabuco Hills ahead 37-20.

Leo Butler intercepted his second pass of the night, but Trabuco missed a field goal. Barrett later scored his second rushing TD of the night and third of the game to put the Mustangs ahead 44-20.

In the fourth quarter, Cowens had a 17-yard rushing TD to cut the lead to 44-26. He then scored on an 80-yard TD run to trim the margin to 44-34.

Butler intercepted two passes for Trabuco Hills, Naso had two touchdown catches and Smaler had two TD passes. Barrett, a sophomore, had two TD runs and one kick-off return for a score.

Trabuco Hills (2-0) hosts Villa Park Friday while Pacifica (1-1) plays at Capistrano Valley Friday.

—Information provided by Trabuco Hills football