Ian Vickers’ Kick Helps Laguna Beach Rally Past Valley Christian, 16-14

Senior running back Jonathan Todd scored 2 touchdowns and rushed for 224 yards and Ian Vickers kicked a 24-yard field goal with 11:57 left Friday night to help Laguna Beach High School rally past host Valley Christian, 16-14, in a nonleague game at Cerritos.

Laguna Beach, ranked ninth in the Southern Section’s Desert-Mountain Conference, earned its fourth straight victory. Valley Christian, No. 1-ranked in the Inland Conference, suffered its first loss.

Coach Mike Wunderley of Valley Christian had said that he wanted to play against schools with larger enrollments to prepare his team for the playoffs.

Laguna Beach, meanwhile, was expecting an easy game against a small school.

“We thought we’d come in here and blow them away,” said Coach Lloyd Cotton of Laguna Beach. “The boys got tough when they had to.”

The game-winning drive came early in the fourth quarter. The Artists drove to Valley Christian’s seven-yard line, but stalled. Vickers, however, kicked the field goal that turned out to be the game-winning points.

A Valley Christian fumble set up the Artists’ first touchdown. Pete Schmitt recovered the ball at the Crusader 22 after running back Larry Schatz bobbled a pitch out from quarterback Jeff Westra.

Todd rushed four straight times on the scoring drive, scoring on a three-yard sweep with 3:22 played.

Valley Christian scored 10 minutes later when Westra threw a 79-yard pass to wide receiver Greg Bush. The PAT tied the score.

Laguna Beach opened the second half with a 71-yard scoring drive. Todd gained all but nine yards, and scored with a one-yard plunge at the 7:14 mark.

The PAT failed, but Laguna Beach led, 13-7.

Westra rallied with a 69-yard drive, including a 50-yard touchdown run to Sean McQuown, who then kicked the extra point for a 14-13 lead.

But Vickers’ field goal to open the fourth quarter kept the Artists unbeaten.