PREP EXTRA: SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Hawks, McGraw Run by University

Laguna Hills and the Brendan McGraw express ran over another Pacific Coast League football opponent Friday, posting a 35-7 victory over University at Mission Viejo High.

The Hawks scored on their first four possessions with McGraw, who gained 192 yards in 30 carries and scored three touchdowns, leading the way. McGraw, the county’s second-leading rusher with 1,682 yards, highlighted a first-string offense that rolled up 356 yards in three quarters.

The Hawks’ defense was equally efficient, limiting University to 63 yards in the first half while Laguna Hills built a 28-point halftime lead. Laguna Hills (6-2, 3-0 in league) has allowed only 16 points in three league games.

“They handed it to us,” University Coach Mark Cunningham said. “They didn’t do anything we weren’t expecting; we have no excuses.”

Laguna Hills didn’t do anything to disguise its game plan, with quarterback Cory Pardoe handing the ball off to McGraw on the game’s first four plays. McGraw accounted for all 54 of the yards on the opening drive, capping it with a 33-yard touchdown run just 1 minute 50 seconds into the game.

McGraw also scored on runs of two and seven yards, giving him 27 touchdowns this season.

Pardoe kept University’s defense honest, completing four of six passes for 86 yards. Pardoe’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Elliott gave the Hawks a 21-0 lead with 1:43 remaining in the first quarter.

On Laguna Hills’ first possession of the third quarter, McGraw carried the ball on 11 consecutive plays to set up the Hawks’ final touchdown, an eight-yard touchdown pass to Jay Johnson from Pardoe, to finish a 64-yard drive that took more than seven minutes.

Laguna Hills Coach Steve Bresnahan liked his offense’s production, but also praised his first-string defense, which allowed only 101 yards and five first downs in a little more than three quarters. Defensive backs Ted Wenzel and Elliott each had one interception.

University broke up the shutout with 4:43 remaining in the fourth quarter when Alan Price scored on a seven-yard touchdown run.

“The score doesn’t bother me as much as we lacked intensity tonight,” Cunningham said. “That’s never happened before. Great backs like McGraw are going to get their yards, but we didn’t even get any good licks on him tonight.”

It won’t get any easier for University (4-4, 2-1) because it plays Costa Mesa (7-1, 3-0), and the county’s leading rusher--Charles Chatman--next week.