ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREP EXTRA : Laguna Hills’ Jones Runs Right Past Pasadena Blair

Mike Jones rushed for 148 yards in 23 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead Laguna Hills to a 21-6 victory over Pasadena Blair Friday night at Mission Viejo High School.

The Vikings came prepared for Laguna Hills’ running game but nothing seemed to work. Pasadena Blair tried eight-man fronts, line stunts, gang tackling and even talking trash to Jones but the only thing it did, Jones said, was “tick me off.”

He gained 91 of his 148 yards in the second half to help the Hawks (3-1) control the clock and keep Pasadena Blair’s offense on the sideline.

“We felt if we could control the ball, we would control the game,” said Laguna Hills Coach Steve Bresnahan. “We felt like we could run the ball. The only surprise may be that Jones is just a sophomore and he’s carrying the load for us, but he has great leg strength and good speed.”

After the Vikings scored on Julio Cosio’s one-yard run, Jones used that speed to help the Hawks march right back. He carried the ball five times on the seven-play drive and ran five yards for the touchdown with 9:55 left in the half.

Laguna Hills went up 14-6 when Cory Pardoe threw 16 yards to Saia Makakaufaki with 4:52 remaining in the first half.

Jones scored the game’s final touchdown with 8:25 left in the third quarter when he dove one yard to cap a eight-play, 63-yard drive.