Notebook : Not-So-Instant Replay Proves Officials Right

It’s not “Forrest Gump,” but it has been looked over again and again, nevertheless. The father of Laguna Hills guard Dave Berutich videotaped University’s final offensive play in the Trojans’ 20-14 loss to Laguna Hills--the one 12 days ago in which neither official signaled incomplete pass or touchdown until talking it over for about a half-minute.

According to Laguna Hills Coach Steve Bresnahan, the Berutich film--shot from the visitors’ stands--shows the ball touching the ground before receiver Fred Roberts gained control of it.

“As Fred rolls over, he rolls over on top of the ball,” Bresnahan said. “It’s [on the ground] right by his knees.”

Said Dave Berutich Sr.: “It’s pretty clear, the ball’s on his belly and it hits the ground as he rolls over, then he comes up with it.”

In that case, officials Bob Carr and Steve Brown made the right--albeit late--call in preserving the Hawks’ victory.

No matter what happens this weekend, Laguna Hills (8-1, 4-0 in league) will go into the playoffs as the Pacific Coast League’s No. 1 entry. University (8-1, 3-1) is tied with Aliso Niguel (7-2, 3-1) for second place. University and Aliso Niguel play each other Thursday.

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Irvine’s 28-14 victory over El Toro on Saturday was delayed nine minutes when Irvine Booster Club president Heather Bell suffered an apparent stroke in the Vaquero bleachers.

Bell was in serious condition Monday night in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Mission Hospital, according to a hospital spokesperson.

She suffered the attack immediately after Irvine’s final touchdown, an 11-yard scoring pass from Jared Flint to Creed Poulson, and Sevan Setian’s point-after with 1 minute 43 seconds left in the third quarter.

“Obviously, [the touchdown] had nothing to do with it,” Athletic Director Rick Curtis said, “it just happened at that time.”

The game resumed after paramedics arrived and began administering aid in the stands at the 45-yard line.

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Dana Hills sophomore running back Julio Peraza sustained a painful injury during practice last week when a teammate who was wearing cleats stepped on the back of his hand.

Though he wore a heavy bandage and appeared tentative on his first two carries Friday, Peraza broke a 61-yard scoring run on his fourth carry. He finished with 154 yards rushing, 43 receiving, scored twice and barely missed completing two passes.

Peraza accounted for 73% of his team’s total offense. It was also the first time this season that a back had rushed for more than 100 yards against San Clemente, which still won, 49-21.

Correspondent Michael Casey contributed to this story.