Trabuco Hills Sputters, Wins : Prep football: Rechner, defense rise to the occasion to lead Mustangs to 15-6 victory over Dana Hills.

The Commotion has been about Pat Barnes and the Trabuco Hills offense. How many yards they would roll up. How many points they would put up.

With the feeding frenzy publicity surrounding the offense, guys like defensive back Matt Rechner have been starved for attention.

But in Friday’s 15-6 victory over Dana Hills, Rechner and the rest of the Mustang defense showed where you still win football games.

Trabuco Hills (2-0) sputtered on offense and spattered on defense. The Mustangs dominated the Dolphins, who are no strangers to strong-arm tactics themselves.

A year ago, Dana Hills bumped and thumped its way to the Southern Section Division II title game. But on Friday, it was the Mustangs who did the sand kicking.

“Everybody’s been talking about our offense,” Rechner said. “We’ve kinda been the unsung heroes. But we’re showing people now.”

Rechner certainly did.

With the Dolphins driving on the game’s first series, he snagged a Scott Covington pass at the two and raced 98 yards for a touchdown.

It was the second consecutive game that a Mustang had returned an interception for a touchdown.

In all, the Mustangs intercepted three passes. Dennis Carter ended a first-quarter drive with an interception, and Tom Singer ended the Dolphins’ last drive with another.

Dana Hills had only 160 total yards. Mark Reynosa accounted for much of that with 92 yards rushing. He had 82 yards in the first quarter, then was shut down.

The Dolphins (0-2) got inside the Mustang 35-yard line three times in the first half but came away with nothing. Their only score followed a blocked punt by Ben Smith late in the fourth quarter. Covington threw a nine-yard touchdown pass on the next play.

Covington was sacked three times, twice by Brad Cervantes.

Barnes, who is being wooed by several major colleges, had his second so-so performance of the season. He completed only 11 of 23 passes for 130 yards and was intercepted once.

He did show flashes of his ability to start the second half. He drove the Mustangs 68 yards and then scored on a one-yard run on their first possession of the third quarter. Barnes then got the Mustangs close enough for Gerry Beckham to make a 28-yard field goal on their next possession.