Prep Football Roundup : Kovanda’s Run Makes Winner of San Clemente

A 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Eric Kovanda helped give San Clemente High School a 10-6 victory over Laguna Beach, giving the Tritons their first victory of the season, in front of 500 fans at San Clemente Friday night.

Kovanda’s run came on a fourth-down play with Laguna Beach (0-4-1) leading, 6-3, with 2:53 left in the game. The score capped a 57-yard, 9-play drive that was sparked by Triton fullback Juan Maldonado’s 22-yard run to the Laguna Beach 21-yard line.

Maldonado entered the game in the third quarter as a replacement for Marc Bohn, who sprained his ankle after gaining 80 yards in 18 carries. Maldonado finished with 67 yards in 13 carries.

Laguna Beach opened the scoring with a 29-yard field goal by Jason Crabbe late in the first quarter. In the second quarter, San Clemente (1-4) tied the score on a 33-yard field goal by Brian Highland, but the Artists took the lead right back on their next possession, when Crabbe kicked a 34-yarder to make the halftime score 6-3.

Magnolia 14, Sonora 3--Shawn Kilifi scored on a 46-yard run with 9:05 left in the game to lead the Sentinels to the nonleague victory over the Raiders at La Habra High School.

Magnolia led, 7-3, before Kilifi scored. The senior fullback finished with 108 yards in 12 carries. Magnolia jumped to an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter with a 71-yard interception return for a score by linebacker Pat McNeil.

Sonora cut the lead to 7-3 with a 52-yard field goal in the third quarter by senior Scott Szeredy.

Magnolia (2-2-1) begins Orange League play next week against Anaheim, while Sonora (0-5) faces Buena Park in its Freeway League opener.

La Habra 14, Perris 12--Running back Mark Brown ran for 1 touchdown and caught a pass for another in the Highlanders’ win over the Panthers at Perris High School. La Habra (2-3) opened the scoring with Brown’s rushing touchdown in the first quarter. Brown’s second score came in the third period, giving the Highlanders a 14-0 lead.

In the second quarter, the Highlanders’ quarterback, Albert Razo, was taken from the field with a severely injured collarbone. It was the second time this season Razo, one of the Freeway League’s best players, had suffered that injury. He was taken to a local hospital for X-rays.

Long Beach Wilson 28, Newport Harbor 14--Scott Bernauer scored 2 touchdowns to lead host Long Beach Wilson. Bernauer scored on a 99-yard kickoff return and on a 7-yard run.

Newport Harbor scored twice in the fourth quarter, as quarterback Tim Newberry threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jim Stanley and a 9-yard touchdown pass to Tom Walker.

Millikan 28, Marina 6--Host Millikan outscored Marina, 16-0, in the second half to pull away for the victory.

Marina (0-5) got a 38-yard touchdown run from Frank Vaccaro in the second quarter. It was the Vikings first offensive touchdown of the season.

Artesia 18, Laguna Hills 17--Artesia scored 12 points in the fourth quarter for a come-from-behind victory at Artesia.

Laguna Hills (1-4) got a 1-yard touchdown run by Craig Riggs and a 20-yard interception return for a touchdown by Mark Wells. Rob Milo kicked a 21-yard field goal and two extra points, as the Hawks built a 17-6 lead.

Troy 34, Savanna 0--Tom Wilson returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown to spark a 21-point, third period outburst as the Warriors stayed unbeaten (4-0-1).

With Troy leading, 7-0, in the third quarter, Chris Conway scored on a 5-yard run. Rob Duarte’s extra point made it 14-0.

After Wilson’s interception return, Rod Aguiar then scored on a 2-yard run for the Warriors’ final touchdown in the the third quarter.

Troy’s Al Vigil had a 5-yard run for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.