Jones Rushes for 341 Yards, Laguna Hills Rips Estancia

There was nothing complicated about Laguna Hills’ 47-13 thrashing of Estancia in a matchup of unbeaten teams in a Pacific Coast League opener Friday at Orange Coast College.

Laguna Hills, behind junior Michael Jones’ 341 yards and three touchdowns, rammed the ball at, over and through Estancia’s overmatched defense.

Jones’ rushing total, which came in 29 carries, was the seventh-best single-game total in Orange County history. He has 1,534 yards this season and 3,884 in his career. His career total is already the county’s 10th best.

Estancia’s defense could at least take solace in the fact that Jones had ice bags on his right ankle, right knee and back and had to be carried off the field by teammates after a postgame team meeting.

“This was one of our most important games of the season,” Jones said. “I have to say that we did a hell of a job.”

Jones was at his best in the first half, when he had touchdown runs of one, 58 and 61 yards. He finished the half with 261 yards in 15 attempts.

“He’s a nice kid to be around,” Laguna Hills Coach Steve Bresnahan said about Jones. “Plus, he can also carry the ball 35 times a game, and his 35th carry is as good as his first, if not better.”

Laguna Hills, ranked first in the Southern Section Division VIII poll and fifth in Orange County, finished with 489 yards rushing.

Quarterback Corey Pardoe completed his only pass attempt for 19 yards and also rushed for 88 yards and three touchdowns. He scored twice from one yard out and also from 18. His 18-yard burst up the middle gave Laguna Hills (6-0, 1-0) a 34-13 lead with 10 minutes 14 seconds left in the game.

Laguna Hills’ final touchdown came when Anthony Daye, in relief of Jones, went 15 yards with 1:09 remaining.

It also turned out to be the game’s last play. It was stopped at that point when an ambulance arrived to take Estancia lineman Tim Johnson to Hoag Hospital. Johnson had hyperventilated on the sideline and was having difficulty breathing. He was released from the hospital later Friday and is expected to practice Monday.

Things went poorly from the start for Estancia (5-1, 0-1) as offensive linemen Alfred Tanielu and Mike Miranda suffered leg injuries in the first two series. This, and the outcome of the game, left Coach John Liebengood very frustrated.

“They’re very good,” Liebengood said. “Laguna Hills is a very physical team. They don’t belong in this league. We have one our best teams and we couldn’t stay with them. What does that tell you? [Laguna Hills] needs to move.”