PREP EXTRA / ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Johnson’s Kicks Start El Toro Past Trabuco Hills

One time in football practice, El Toro’s Chad Johnson kicked a ball over the goal posts, past a fence and into the pool, startling the Charger water polo team.

Johnson likewise startled the Trabuco Hills football team Friday, with two field goals in the second quarter, of 29 and 47 yards, to help El Toro to a 28-0 nonleague victory in front of about 3,500 at Trabuco Hills High.

Johnson, a junior who also plays--and get this-- center , gives the Chargers (4-1) a dominating kicking game. Of his five kickoffs in the game, two reached the end zone and two were caught inside the seven-yard line. He also missed a 50-yard field goal on El Toro’s first possession and a 40-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.

Johnson estimated that his famous practice kick into the El Toro pool was about 60 yards.

“I like kicking because I’m good at it, but I like center better because it is a lot of fun. It is a challenge; most of the guys are a lot bigger than I am,” said Johnson, who is listed at 6 feet, 220 pounds.

Johnson’s 29-yard field goal with 8 minutes 53 seconds to play in the second quarter got the Chargers on the scoreboard and the momentum in their favor. A little more than four minutes later, Murle Sango scored on a 48-yard run and Johnson kicked the extra point to put El Toro ahead, 10-0.

With 53 seconds remaining in the half, Johnson kicked his 47-yard field goal, which tied his career best that he set last year against Santa Margarita.

After Johnson’s field goal, the half wound to a close with a bizarre set of interceptions. On the first play of Trabuco Hills’ ensuing possession, El Toro’s Jeremy Jarrett intercepted a pass from Tom Lindow at the El Toro 41-yard line. On the next play, Steve Krupp’s pass was intercepted by Trabuco Hills’ Scott Arthur at the Mustang 14-yard line as the first half ended.

Krupp completed 11 of 20 passes for 114 yards with one interception and Lindow completed six of 20 passes for 81 yards with one interception for the Mustangs (1-4).

The only touchdown of the third quarter was on an 11-yard run by El Toro’s Richard Oates. Although the Chargers were leading, 19-0, with 2:26 to play in the third quarter, El Toro Coach Mike Milner attempted a two-point conversion and Krupp’s pass to Rocky Voll was complete to make it 21-0.

On El Toro’s first possession of the fourth quarter, Michael Smith returned a punt 80 yards into the end zone, but it was called back to the El Toro 12-yard line because of clipping. On the next play, however, Oates broke loose for an 88-yard touchdown run that counted and Johnson’s extra-point attempt was good.

Oates finished the night with a game-high 166 yards in 13 carries, including two touchdowns. El Toro finished well below its 42.5-points-per-game average and racked up 95 yards in penalties. Nonetheless, the Chargers dominated, limiting the Mustangs to 13 yards in total offense in the first half.