Barnes Not Needed by Mustangs : Trabuco Hills: Fifth-ranked team wins without starting quarterback.

As quarterback Pat Barnes stood on the sideline, Trabuco Hills romped to a 35-7 victory over Laguna Beach in a Pacific Coast League game Friday night at Trabuco Hills High.

Barnes, a senior who has led the Mustangs to a No. 5 ranking in Orange County, broke his left ring finger in last week’s 21-14 victory against Estancia when a player stepped on his hand during the game’s first quarter.

Although Trabuco Hills Coach Jim Barnett described the injury--on Barnes’ non-throwing hand--as minor, Barnes suited up, but did not play. Barnett expects Barnes, who was wearing a soft cast, to play in the team’s next game.

In Barnes’ place, sophomore quarterbacks Randy Ortiz and Chad Collins stepped up, combining for 175 yards passing and helping the Mustangs to a share of the league title with the victory.

The Mustangs (9-1, 4-1 in league) will advance to the Southern Section playoffs as the league’s No. 2 team because Century, the No. 1 team, defeated them earlier in the season.

Trabuco Hills, which narrowly defeated Estancia, didn’t have a difficult time against Laguna Beach, taking a 21-0 lead at halftime.

Laguna Beach (1-9, 0-5) was led by quarterback Patrick Wood, who passed for 162 yards and a touchdown, but had three interceptions.

After scoring on its first possession only 1 minute 18 seconds into the game on a 57-yard punt return by wide receiver Cordell Graham, Trabuco Hills scored again on its next possession with 3:41 left in the first quarter. Ortiz, who is 5-feet-7 and 150 pounds, hit tight end Ryan Wolter with a six-yard touchdown pass, giving the Mustangs a 14-0 lead.

With 10:27 left in the second quarter, Ortiz threw another touchdown pass to Wolter, this time for 16 yards.