Jones Gets His Yards, Hawks Get a Victory

MISSION VIEJO —  Michael Jones moved into fourth place on the Orange County career rushing list with 169 yards Friday to help third-ranked Laguna Hills to a 42-6 nonleague victory over Sonora at Mission Viejo High.

But the game’s unexpected story was the impressive play of Laguna Hills quarterback Tommy Banning, who was making his first varsity start.

Banning was six for six for 176 yards, including three touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown.

“This is a thousand times more than what I could have imagined in my first start,” Banning said. “But I don’t really care how I do as long as we win.”

With Sonora focused on stopping Jones in the first half--the Raiders limited him to 50 yards--Banning took advantage.

He was four for four in the first half, including scoring passes of 39 and 31 yards to tight end Saia Makakaufaki.

Makakaufaki’s second score put Laguna Hills ahead, 14-0, with 2 minutes 50 seconds left in the half.

Laguna Hills increased its lead to 21-0 when Dustin Mang intercepted a pass and went 74 yards for a touchdown with 30 seconds left in the half.

Banning found his other tight end, Ryan Johnson, open for a 43-yard touchdown pass play early in the third quarter.

Banning and running back Jeremy Miller scored on runs to put the Hawks ahead, 42-0.

Deric Hilliard was a bright spot for Sonora, rushing for 102 yards in 14 carries.

Sonora scored its only touchdown with 46 seconds left in the game on a 10-yard pass from Clint Patton to Aaron Winterswyk.

Jones, who gained 119 yards in the second half, has a career total of 4,675 yards, only 203 behind No. 3 Derek Brown (Servite, 1986-88), and 722 behind No. 1 Ray Pallares (Valencia, 1983-85).