HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Laguna Hills Defeats Trabuco Hills, 35-28

Tailback Dave Webber rushed for 278 yards and two touchdowns as Laguna Hills won its first Southern Section Division VII title Friday night with a 35-28 victory over Trabuco Hills at Mission Viejo High.

Webber scored on a seven-yard run with 1 minute 53 seconds remaining to give Laguna Hills a 35-28 lead. Defensive back Mike Maceranka secured the victory when he intercepted a pass by Trabuco Hills’ Pat Barnes at the Laguna Hills’ 30-yard line with 50 seconds remaining.

Laguna Hills (10-3-1) avenged a 34-21 loss to Trabuco Hills (8-5-1) during the Pacific Coast League season.

Webber carried 26 times for 200 yards in the second half and finished with 42 carries. His winning touchdown was set up when Laguna Hills’ Matt Stilson recovered Trabuco Hills’ onside kick at the Hawks’ 45 with 6:24 remaining in the fourth quarter.

“If Trabuco would have got the ball back there, who knows what would have happened,” Laguna Hills Coach Steve Bresnahan said.

Trabuco Hills Coach Jim Barnett said the onside kick was the turning point. He chose to kick it short instead of deep for fear the Hawks would run out the clock with another long drive.

“I thought we got the ball on the onside kick,” Barnett said.

Sophomore quarterback Justin Vedder, a transfer from Santa Ana Mater Dei, threw touchdown passes of nine and two yards to Sergio Jimenez and scored on a five-yard run in the third quarter for the Hawks.

Trabuco Hills tailback Jeff Clayton rushed for 112 yards in 12 carries, including touchdown runs of four and 17 yards during the fourth quarter.