Jones Gains 305 Yards in Laguna Hills’ Victory

Tailback Mike Jones rushed for 305 yards but it was a touchdown pass late in the game that enabled Laguna Hills to hold off Trabuco Hills for a 40-28 victory Friday at Mission Viejo High.

Laguna Hills (2-0) took a 34-14 lead midway through the third quarter on a three-yard touchdown run by Anthony Daye. But, as they did last week when trailing by 26 against Santa Margarita, Trabuco Hills rallied.

The Mustangs scored successive touchdowns on a three-yard run by Chris Lewis and a 58-yard pass from Tom Lindow to Todd Flournoy, cutting the deficit to 34-28.

But Laguna Hills responded with a 12-play, 65-yard drive. The Hawks caught Trabuco Hills defense off guard on third and seven when quarterback Cory Pardoe threw a pass over the middle to tight end Saia Makakaufaki, who broke one tackle and scored from 25 yards out.

Makakaufaki, a 6-foot-4 junior, also caught a 70-yard scoring pass earlier.

For the second consecutive game, the Mustangs (0-2) wasted another good offensive game from Lewis, who ran for 160 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown run on the second play of the game, and Lindow, who passed for 256 yards and two touchdowns.

The Mustangs’ defense has yielded 959 total yards in two games this season.

Trailing, 7-0, Laguna Hills scored three straight touchdowns.

Jones, who carried the ball 34 times, scored on an 80-yard run to tie the score, 7-7. Makakaufaki followed with his first touchdown and Pardoe scored on a one-yard run that ended a 65-yard drive.

Pardoe connected on all six of his passes for 115 yards and carried 10 times for 52 yards.

Trabuco Hills scored with 30 seconds left in the half as Lindow found Billy Ortiz along the sidelines for a 37-yard touchdown to trail 21-14.