Flags Fly, but Vedder, Laguna Hills Prevail

In between all the flying penalty flags, Laguna Hills quarterback Justin Vedder found time to put the football in the air too.

Vedder passed for 182 yards and three touchdowns to lead Laguna Hills, second-ranked in Southern Section Division VIII, to a 41-6 nonleague victory over University Thursday night at Irvine.

Vedder, a junior transfer from Mater Dei, completed 10 of 16 passes, including touchdown passes of three and 55 yards to Ryan Geyer and a 17-yard touchdown pass to Matt Stilson.

Laguna Hills (2-0) rolled up 421 yards total offense and 19 first downs in a game that included 220 yards in penalties. University (0-2) was whistled for 13 penalties for 127 yards; Laguna Hills 12 times for 93.

Laguna Hills’ Dan Ciska rushed 20 times for 91 yards, including a five-yard touchdown run that keyed a 20-0 fourth quarter. The Hawks’ Fred Kim gained 85 yards in 10 carries.

Matt Johnson added a 17-yard interception return in the fourth quarter for the Hawks.

Laguna Hills built a 15-3 halftime lead behind two touchdown passes by Vedder, who was seven of 11 for 115 yards in the first half.

The Hawks’ Chris Baedeker caught five passes for 51 yards and Geyer two for 58.

University quarterback Chris Peake struggled, completing only eight of 19 pass attempts for 80 yards and two interceptions.

Peake kicked field goals of 33 and 30 yards for University’s only points.