Ciska’s Run Puts Laguna Hills on Top

Senior Dan Ciska rushed for 142 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter as Laguna Hills beat Santiago, 21-14, in the season opener for both teams Thursday at Garden Grove High.

Ciska scored from seven yards out on a strong second effort with 2 minutes 22 seconds left to play and Ryan Miller added his third extra point.

Ciska’s run capped an impressive drive for Laguna Hills, which won the Division VII title last season.

The Hawks went 78 yards in six plays, all on the ground, in 2:36. Santiago was also called for off-sides during the drive. Ciska had 34 yards in three carries and fullback Fred Kim had 39 yards in three carries in the drive. Kim finished with 60 yards in 10 tries.

Laguna Hills led, 7-6, at the half and went up, 14-6, when junior quarterback Jason Vedder scored on a four-yard run midway through the third quarter.

Santiago cut the lead to 14-12 when defensive back Robert Wiemann intercepted a pass and went 70 yards for a touchdown with 11:01 left in the game. Quarterback Louie Perez then passed to running back Tom Sokanthong for the two-point conversion to tie it, 14-14. Perez had scored Santiago’s other touchdown on a one-yard drive in the first quarter but the extra-point try was wide.

Santiago drove to the Laguna Hills 27 with 1:06 left in the game, but the Hawks’ defense made two big plays. Linebacker James Lawson sacked Perez for a five-yard loss. Then Ciska, who is also a linebacker, sacked Perez for a 10-yard loss. Two plays later, Santiago turned the ball over on downs with 11 seconds left.