ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL / PREP EXTRA : DIVISION VIII : Aliso Niguel Runs Over Monrovia, 24-15

Trent Perley ran for 124 yards and two touchdowns in 26 carries as Aliso Niguel won its first Southern Section playoff game, defeating Monrovia, 24-15, in Division VIII first-round action Friday at Monrovia High.

Perley joined a massive huddle of players and coaches at midfield after the game. Players raised their helmets and chanted, “Three more games.”

“This is the beginning of a tradition,” Perley said. “Three more to go after this.” Aliso Niguel faces Bellflower next week.

Aliso Niguel (8-2-1) and quarterback Scott Nemeth looked like championship contenders as the Wolverines controlled the ball and clock for much of the game.

But it was defense that got Aliso Niguel on the scoreboard first. On the final play of the first quarter, Monrovia’s backup quarterback Dupree Simmons threw under pressure and was picked off at midfield by John Hefty, who returned it 45 yards for the game’s first touchdown.

Nemeth, limping noticeably because of an injury sustained in practice, twice kept drives alive on fourth-down keepers. He completed five of six passes in the first half to set up David Waltzman’s 20-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Wolverines a 10-0 halftime lead.

Perley took over in the second half, running for touchdowns of five and four yards, which put the game out of reach.