Barnes, Trabuco Hills Pound Laguna Hills

UCLA quarterback John Barnes can only hope things go as well for him today as they did Friday night for his younger brother, Pat.

Pat Barnes completed 18 of 22 passes for 243 yards and four touchdowns as Trabuco Hills pounded Pacific Coast League rival Laguna Hills, 42-0, at Mission Viejo.

It was the start of a big weekend for the Barnes brothers.

John, a senior walk-on and former Trabuco Hills quarterback, is one of two candidates to start today for the Bruins, who play Washington State today. UCLA Coach Terry Donahue is expected to announce a starter just before kickoff.

With his performance Friday night, Pat Barnes moved into seventh place on the county career passing-yardage list with 5,321 yards, passing former Newport Harbor player Shane Foley (5,264).

“I was hoping to get up to Pullman (Wash.) to watch John play,” Pat Barnes said. “But I couldn’t go. I guess I’ll just have to pull a bowl of popcorn up in front of the TV and watch him play.”

He was too busy helping Trabuco Hills avenge a 35-28 loss to Laguna Hills in last year’s Southern Section Division VII championship game.

The Mustangs (6-0, 1-0), the top-ranked team in Southern Section Division VIII and No. 6 in Orange County, also ended Laguna Hills’ winning streak at 12 games dating back to last season.

This game was history by halftime as No. 10 Laguna Hills (5-1, 0-1) had no answer for Barnes and Trabuco Hills’ dominant defense. Trabuco Hills had 388 yards total offense to 194 yards for Laguna Hills.

Barnes rushed for 50 yards in seven carries and threw two touchdown passes as Trabuco Hills built a 21-0 halftime lead.

The Mustangs’ defense held Laguna Hills to only four first downs and 96 yards total offense in the first half. Trabuco Hills forced six turnovers--three interceptions and three fumbles--for the second consecutive game.

“Our defense played super,” Trabuco Hills Coach Jim Barnett said. “I didn’t expect a shutout, but I didn’t expect us to give up 35 points to Laguna Hills in the championship game last year, either.

Barnes got Trabuco Hills off to a quick start, throwing short passes in a five-play, 65-yard drive. He completed his first four passes for 45 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown pass to Cordell Graham.

The Mustangs’ second touchdown was set up not by his passing, but by his running.

On a fourth-down-and nine at the Laguna Hills 27, Barnes scrambled 24 yards to the Hawks’ three. Two plays later, Chris Ford scored on a two-yard run and the Mustangs had a 14-0 lead with 9 minutes 41 seconds left in the second quarter.

Another Barnes touchdown pass--10 yards to Mike Beyersdoerfer--gave Trabuco Hills a 21-0 lead with 1:09 left in the half.