Orange Rallies to Overcome Anaheim : Preps: Lauridsen’s interception seals 28-21 victory. Five turnovers help Panthers win.

Orange High’s defense kept bending, but it didn’t break in the end. Defensive back Andy Lauridsen intercepted a pass in the end zone with six seconds remaining to preserve a 28-21 victory over Anaheim at Glover Stadium.

Lauridsen’s interception ended a 75-yard, 20-play drive by Anaheim. He intercepted Jake Walker’s pass intended for Luis Lopez in the left corner of the end zone to cap an improbable victory for Orange.

Orange trailed, 21-7, in the second quarter while Anaheim running back Reuben Droughns, Orange County’s leading rusher who had 203 yards and a touchdown in 35 carries, ran roughshod over the Panthers for a half.

But Orange’s defense forced five turnovers--three interceptions and two fumbles--which kept the Panthers in the game.

“The kids really wanted this win,” Orange Coach Buddy Bland said. “They could’ve quit when they were down, but they kept plugging away and finally came through.”

One senior who came through was tailback Jeff Williams, who rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns in 13 carries while also intercepting two passes.

Williams started in place of Orange’s leading rusher, Jamie Worthem, who will be out two-to-four weeks with a bone chip in his right knee.

Williams started the Panthers’ rally by intercepting a Walker pass at the Orange four-yard line with 9 minutes 10 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

One play later, Williams, the Century League’s 100-meter sprint champion, took a pitch from quarterback Raul Vital, swept to the left, turned the corner and raced 96 yards untouched for a touchdown.

After Jerry Arguello’s conversion, the Panthers (2-3) had cut the lead to 21-14.

Orange recovered a Droughns fumble at the Orange 18 midway through the third quarter. Williams took a pitch and ran for 37 yards on the first play of the drive and Arguello passed to Joe Bonfadini for four yards and a first down on a fake punt play to get Orange to the Anaheim 30.

Williams capped the 82-yard, 13-play drive, scoring on a seven-yard touchdown run with :50 remaining in the third quarter. Williams also set up the Panthers final score, intercepting a pass and returning it 30 yards to the Anaheim four-yard line with 4:26 remaining.

One play later, Vital scored a touchdown on a one-yard quarterback sneak with 3:42 remaining.

Julio Herrera scored in the first half on a one-yard touchdown run and a five-yard touchdown pass from Walker for the Colonists (3-2).