Barnes, Graham Play Key Roles in Trabuco Hills’ 34-21 Victory

Two juniors played with the savvy of seniors while leading Trabuco Hills to a 34-21 victory over Laguna Hills Friday night.

One of them, quarterback Pat Barnes, completed eight of 16 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for two touchdowns. Barnes started half of last season but maturity has improved his play this year.

“The experience is finally beginning to pay off,” Trabuco Hills Coach Jim Barnett said. “He made some really good decisions. Everybody forgets he’s just a junior.”

Another junior, Cordell Graham, doubled as a wide receiver and defensive back. He put Trabuco Hills on the scoreboard 40 seconds into the game, catching a short pass from Barnes and going 78 yards for the touchdown. Graham finished with three catches for 127 yards and made a crucial interception in the third quarter to kill a Laguna Hills drive and preserve a 28-14 Trabuco Hills lead.

The victory kept Trabuco Hills (3-3-1, 2-0 in league) in the thick of the Pacific Coast League race and dropped Laguna Hills to 3-3-1, 1-1.

A tricky 63-yard bootleg by Barnes, his longest of the season, resulted in a second-quarter touchdown and put Trabuco Hills up, 21-7.

Trabuco Hills controlled the second half with help from a strong pass rush led by lineman John Pugh and linebacker Audney DePaulo. The Mustangs put the game away late in the third quarter with a 60-yard touchdown drive, capping it with a one-yard Barnes keeper that made it 34-14.