Laguna Hills Isn’t Fooled, Defeats Costa Mesa, 21-17

Costa Mesa’s football team got a tad too fancy Thursday night, and it was costly for the Mustangs in their Pacific Coast League opener against Laguna Hills.

Laguna Hills stopped Costa Mesa on a fake punt at the Hawks’ 45-yard line with 6 minutes 51 seconds left in the fourth quarter, then drove for the winning score in a 21-17 victory at Mission Viejo High School.

Costa Mesa (2-4, 0-1 in league) was leading, 17-14, when the Mustangs lined up to punt on a fourth-and-five at the Laguna Hills 42. But the ball was snapped to the short back, Andrew Banua, instead of punter Steve Owen.

Banua was thrown for a three-yard loss by Laguna Hills defensive tackle Greg DeFelice, who finished with 12 tackles.

Laguna Hills (3-2-1, 1-0) took over at its 45, driving 38 yards in six plays before Justin Vedder threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Geyer for the go-ahead score with 3:38 left in the game.

Costa Mesa Coach Tom Baldwin defended his decision to go for the fake instead of punting.

Costa Mesa’s defense had been shutting down Laguna Hills in the second half. And the Mustangs had converted on a fourth-and-one earlier in the drive with a three-yard run by Fernando Ospina.

“Our defensive coaches told me to go for it,” Baldwin said. “The (fake punt) play had looked good in practice, and I thought it was a gimme.”

DeFelice’s tackle on the fake punt was one of two big defensive plays for the Hawks. Laguna Hills linebacker Steve Cox stopped running back Mike Cota at the Hawks’ one on a fourth-and-goal from the two with 7:17 left in the second quarter.

The victory was a relief for Laguna Hills Coach Steve Bresnahan, who had several players miss practice this week with the flu, including DeFelice.

“Greg was out two days sick,” Bresnahan said. “Maybe not practicing is good for us.”

Laguna Hills running back Dave Webber rushed for 125 yards in 17 carries, and Vedder completed eight of 14 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns.

Ospina led Costa Mesa with 97 yards in 23 carries.