Mustangs’ Burst Buries Laguna Hills

MISSION VIEJO —  Trabuco Hills is the team to beat.

That’s what the Mustangs established Friday night in front of 1,200 as they dismantled the team expected to most seriously challenge them for the Pacific Coast League title.

The home team scored 19 second-quarter points and walked off with a 33-6 victory over Laguna Hills.

Laguna Hills quarterback Justin Vedder, who had passed for the second-most yards in the county (1,066) entering the game, completed six of 16 passes for 56 yards, although three were dropped.

Fred Kim rushed 22 times for 115 yards against the Mustang defense, but 59 yards came on two carries--the Hawks’ first play from scrimmage in each half.

Trabuco Hills outgained its rival, 350 yards to 194.

“We knew our running game would jell sometime,” Trabuco Hills coach Jim Barnett said. “We picked the right night.”

Serge Gudowski (14 for 120) became the first Mustang this season to rush for more than 100 yards in a game. His 52-yard scoring run--on the drive after Laguna Hills’ only score (Vedder’s one-yard run)--capped an 89-yard drive and broke the Hawks’ spirit.

Two plays later, Geoff Beckham intercepted a Vedder pass, and Trabuco Hills went 52 yards in five plays, the final a one-yard run by Laquent Fobbs.

Trabuco Hills rushed for 246 yards and Gudowski praised the offensive line: Justin Poe, Jeff Collins, Robby Jacobs, Dan Mertins and Tim Vallez.

“This is always the most important game in our league,” Gudowski said. “It’s usually our toughest game. Coming off two losses, we were really fired up. This was the most fired up I’ve seen us before a game all season.”

Trabuco Hills took a 19-0 lead in the second quarter.

The Mustangs twice took advantage of their field position, grinding the ball into the end zone, and on another occasion used the big play to put the squeeze on Laguna Hills.

They scored on drives that started on Laguna Hills’ 42- and 39-yard lines. On the first, the five-play series ended with a 21-yard scoring pass from Jake Galasso to Brad Cervantes. The kick was wide on the extra-point attempt.

The 39-yard drive gave Trabuco Hills a 19-0 lead. It was set up by a seven-yard punt. Galasso scored from the one with 1 minute 36 seconds left in the half. Gerry Beckham added the extra point.

Between those scores, the Mustangs went 61 yards in four plays. Matt Rechner caught two passes for 53 yards, including a spectacular 29-yard catch at the 14. On the next play, Gudowski ran up the middle for 14 yards. A two-point conversion failed.