THE PREPS : Pacific Coast League Football : Field Goals Make the Difference for Laguna Beach in 6-2 Victory

Jason Crabbe kicked 2 field goals to give Laguna Beach High School a 6-2 victory over Laguna Hills Thursday in the Pacific Coast League opener for both teams at Mission Viejo High School.

Laguna Beach (1-4-1), led, 3-0, at halftime, but Laguna Hills (1-5) narrowed the lead to 3-2 when the Hawks’ Rob Milo tackled Aaron Scheid in the end zone for a safety with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.

Laguna Beach’s ensuing free kick bounced off the hands of a Laguna Hills player and was recovered by Artist Darren Webb at the Hawk 27. Seven plays later, Crabbe kicked his second field goal, a 39-yarder with a minute left in the third period.

Laguna Hills got its best chance to score a touchdown with 2 minutes gone in the fourth quarter when Darrin Chapman intercepted a pass by Shan Gray and returned it 39 yards to the Laguna Beach 20.

Three plays later, the threat ended when linebacker Shawn Mallet intercepted a Mike Helm pass at the Artist 19. The interception was Mallet’s second of the game and Laguna Beach’s third.

“It was fortunate for us that the ball was muffed by one of their players,” Laguna Beach Coach Lyman Olney said. “That was a big part of the game, and that gave us the opportunity to score some points when we needed them.”

Laguna Beach took a 3-0 lead with 1 minute left in the first quarter on Crabbe’s 45-yard field goal. That capped a 10-play drive which was highlighted by Scheid’s 24-yard pass to Webb.

Gray, who rushed 7 times for 22 yards in the Artists’ scoring drive, carried the team’s offensive load in the first half. Gray rushed on 20 of the Artists’ 23 first-half offensive plays, gained 67 yards.

He finished the game with 91 yards in 34 rushes.