ORANGE COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL : Pacific Coast League : Laguna Beach Title Hopes Fall With Todd’s Injury

Laguna Beach High School, going for its first league title since 1972, ran into problems early in the first quarter against Woodbridge when Orange County’s leading rusher, Jonathan Todd, suffered a knee injury and could no longer play.

Without much of a running game, the Artists’ hopes of the Pacific Coast League championship ended in a 21-0 loss to Woodbridge in front of 2,000 on Guyer Field at Laguna Beach.

As a result, Orange (4-1, 6-4), which defeated Costa Mesa Thursday night, won the league title. Woodbridge (3-2, 8-2) finished second and Laguna Beach (3-2, 8-2) third. The teams will enter the Southern Section playoffs next week.

Todd, a middle linebacker, suffered the injury while tackling a Woodbridge runner. Todd, who had gained 1,426 yards in 245 carries and scored 16 touchdowns in 9 games, watched the rest of the game on crutches. He gained 20 yards in 4 carries before the injury.

Todd’s replacement, Rob Oliver, ran for 52 yards in 19 carries.

Woodbridge was led by junior quarterback Eric Brougher, who scored a touchdown on a 90-yard run and passed for two others. Brougher completed 5 of 15 passes for 61 yards and had no interceptions.

A tough Woodbridge defense led by Jon Daniels, Mike Sorensen, John Yurkovich and Dave Townsend held Laguna Beach quarterback Danny Lane to 4 completions in 13 attempts for 13 yards.