Dana Hills Defense Stops Trabuco Hills

The Dana Hills High School defense stopped Trabuco Hills on fourth and goal at the nine-yard line with 15 seconds remaining to preserve a 14-7 nonleague victory on Friday at Mission Viejo High.

The loss was the first for Trabuco Hills since a 9-7 setback to Laguna Beach in the Mustangs’ third league game last year. Trabuco Hills had won seven consecutive games spanning two seasons and the final score was its lowest output since losing to Laguna Beach.

Trabuco Hills trailed by a touchdown after Dana Hills fullback Matt Carvalho scored on a 14-yard run with 6:06 left to play. But Trabuco Hills began a drive from its 19, moving to the Dana Hills five with two minutes remaining.

A series of penalties against both teams, including two delay of game infractions against Trabuco Hills, left the Mustangs in a fourth-down situation with 15 seconds remaining. On the final play of the game, Trabuco Hills quarterback Tim Manning’s pass fell incomplete under heavy defensive pressure.

“I figured they were going to their best receiver (Julian Ford), so I told the guys to look out for Ford,” said Don Douglass, Dana Hills coach. “They went to him twice on the drive, so we were ready for it.”

Carvalho scored both touchdowns for Dana Hills. He finished with 106 yards in 16 carries, including scoring runs of 14 and five yards. Manning completed seven of 15 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown.

Dana Hills limited Trabuco Hills fullback Ben Rooker to 53 yards in 16 carries.