ORANGE COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL : Pacific Coast League : Laguna Beach Does About-Face : Artists Come Back Strong to Defeat Laguna Hills, 14-3

Laguna Beach High School played a different and much better kind of game in the second half than in the first against Laguna Hills Friday night on Guyer Field.

And as a result, the Artists defeated Laguna Hills, 14-3, in Pacific Coast League action.

In the first half, the Artists were plagued by receivers running wrong pass routes, and by 45 yards in penalties--mostly on illegal procedure calls.

“I’m not sure why we were distracted,” said Lyman Olney, Laguna Beach coach. “Laguna Hills was ready to play football and had played well the last two games.”

Perhaps, but an Artist defense that sacked Laguna Hills quarterback Chris Leigber three times and held Brian Fleming, Orange County’s leading receiver, to 2 catches for 36 yards, took time to gel.

Laguna Hills took a 3-0 lead in the second quarter when Fleming kicked a 36-yard field goal with 4:55 remaining in the half.

But soon as the Artists (6-1, 2-0) got possession, they showed how quickly they can move the football. Two minutes and four seconds after the Hawks had scored, the Artists drove 67 yards in six plays climaxed by Mark Wells scoring on a four-yard run. Wells, who normally plays slot back, was lining up as a tailback Friday and gained 61 yards in 15 carries.

“Mark ran the ball for us well, a really super job,” Olney said. “The offensive line really blocked well all night.”

The Artists extended their lead in the third quarter when receiver Broc Stephens caught an 8-yard pass from quarterback Danny Lane that capped a 75-yard drive. Though he was often well covered, Stephens caught 7 passes for 96 yards. Lane completed 15 of 26 passes for 177 yards.

“They were real concerned with Broc but he still made his catches,” Olney said.

Even though they managed only a field goal, the Hawks (1-5-1, 1-1) had their chances to win. Running back Scott Saunders ran 26 yards to the Laguna Beach 7-yard line. On the next play a touchdown run by Brad Prescott was voided by a holding penalty. Three incomplete passes and another penalty, the Hawks settled for a field goal.

Laguna Hills lost another apparent touchdown when linebacker Reagan Smith returned an interception 43 yards, but a holding penalty moved the ball out to the 25-yard line. Defensive tackle Matthew Weenig recovered a Hawk fumble on the next play.