PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE FOOTBALL : Trabuco Hills Shuts Down Laguna Beach

There’s something about the Pacific Coast League season that brings out the best in running back Ben Rooker and the Trabuco Hills High School football team.

Rooker rushed for 118 yards in 18 carries and scored three touchdowns as Trabuco Hills broke a three-game losing streak with a 34-0 victory over Laguna Beach in the league opener for both teams Thursday at Mission Viejo.

Rooker, who has been slowed by a sprained ankle, had gained less than 160 yards before Thursday’s game.

But Rooker, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound senior, came to life at just the right time for the Mustangs, the two-time defending league and State Division VIII champions.

“Having the big guy back really opened things up for us,” Trabuco Hills Coach Jim Barnett said.

Trabuco Hills (2-3-1, 1-0 in league) rolled up 394 yards total offense and held Laguna Beach (2-4, 0-1) to 176 yards. The Mustangs outgained the Artists, 221-80, while building a 21-0 halftime lead.

“We’ve been playing good defense all year,” Barnett said. “We just hadn’t done much offensively. We outgained all of our opponents, but we just couldn’t score.”

The Mustangs didn’t have any problems scoring Thursday, capitalizing on two Laguna Beach fumbles.

Running back Jeff Clayton gained 98 yards in 11 carries and quarterback Pat Barnes threw for 107 yards for Trabuco Hills.

But it was Rooker who put the Mustangs in front early, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions.

Rooker scored on an eight-yard run with 9 minutes 11 seconds left in the first quarter, capping a seven-play, 56-yard drive.

A 31-yard punt return by Brett Sutherland set up Trabuco Hills’ next score, a six yard run by Rooker with 5:26 left in the first quarter.

The Mustangs pushed the lead to 21-0 when Barnes scrambled for a 17-yard touchdown run with 2:44 left in the half. Trabuco Hills’ Ron Christ recovered a fumble by Laguna Beach quarterback Morgan Lanchantin at the Trabuco Hills 40-yard line to set up the scoring drive.

Rooker scored his third touchdown on an 11-yard run off right tackle with 3:06 remaining in the third quarter, giving the Mustangs a 27-0 lead.

The Mustangs completed the scoring with 1:03 left in the third quarter when Barnes threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Nick Pivaroff.