PHOTOS: Strong defense leads Trabuco Hills past Laguna Hills 35-13 in Sea View game

Nate Ortiz of Trabuco Hills gains yards in Friday’s game vs. Laguna Hills (Photos courtesy Rob Cuddy, Trabuco Hills football, For OC Sports Zone)

The Trabuco Hills defense led the way for a 35-13 Sea View League victory Friday night over Laguna Hills on homecoming for Laguna Hills.

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

Quarterback Jaxon Smaler directed the Mustangs’ offense on the opening drive, capped by a 35 yard TD pass to Jake Naso to give Trabuco Hills a 7-0 lead.

The Trabuco Hills defense kept Laguna Hills star running back Mitch Leigber in check all night and forced a punt. The Mustang defense held the Hawks’ offense to 186 yards of total offense and forced two key interceptions. 

After a Trabuco Hills punt, Laguna Hills (5-3, 1-1) went on a drive that took over eight minutes and chewed up most of the clock in the second quarter, but the Mustangs’ defense got a stop on fourth down on the 8-yard line.

The Mustangs (5-4, 2-1) then drove 92 yards before the half. Smaler found Jack Holland for a 21-yard TD pass with 30 seconds to go in the half to make it 14-09.

Laguna Hills got the ball to start the second half but Laguna Hillsa quarterback Hayden McKenna was intercepted by Trabuco’s Justin Avilez. However, the Mustangs couldn’t capitalize and the drive ended with a missed field goal.

After a Laguna Hills punt, the Mustangs drove down and Drew Barrett rushed in from 1 yard out to give Trabuco Hills a 21-0 lead.

McKenna looked to throw to Leigber but Trabuco’s Quinton Price intercepted the pass and returned it midfield.

This time the Mustangs took advantage of the turnover and quarterback Aiden Armstrong ran it in from six yards out to make it 28-0.

However, the Hawks weren’t going away. On the ensuing kickoff, Andre Whiteside of Laguna Hills returned the kickoff 95 yards for a TD to cut the lead to 28-7. But the Mustangs recovered an onside kick attempt. 

However, Whiteside again made a big play, returning an interception to the 1 yard line. Leigber scored on the next play to cut the lead to 28-13.

The Mustangs sealed the win on the next drive, after several runs and Smaler connected again with Naso for a 45 yard TD pass to make it 35-13.

–Courtesy Trabuco Hills football