Mustangs Cut Down to Size by the Lancers

Trabuco Hills produced one of its finest efforts of the season. But La Puente Bishop Amat was at its finest when it counted.

The Lancers repeatedly stymied the Mustangs on key offensive situations and capitalized with three Mike Wagner touchdowns to defeat Trabuco Hills, 21-0, in a Southern Section Division I playoff game Friday night at Trabuco Hills High.

Bishop Amat will face Long Beach Poly in the semifinals.

“They’ve got a heck of a team,” Trabuco Hills Coach Bill Crow said. “They’re just big up front and beat us in the trenches. We’ve been getting away with [a size disadvantage] all year and it finally caught up with us.”

The Lancers (11-0-1) had to wait an extra hour to begin the game because the truck carrying their helmets and shoulder pads broke down on the freeway on the way to the field.

There was no such breakdown for Lancer running back Wagner, however. Wagner, a 5-foot-9 senior, rushed for 140 yards in 22 carries, including touchdown runs of six, one and five yards.

Bishop Amat took a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter and ended two Trabuco Hills drives on Dennis Wyrick interceptions and another on fourth and one.

The Mustangs (9-2-1) came alive in the second half, only to see a 67-yard drive end on a failed fourth-down attempt and an 83-yard drive end when quarterback Brandon Heaney fumbled into the arms of 261-pound lineman Jason Turner, who ran 55 yards on the return.

“I just grabbed the ball and made sure I didn’t fumble it,” said Turner. “I expected them to catch me at the 35-yard line but I just kept running.”

Heaney was seven of 18 for 123 yards with three interceptions for the Mustangs.

“Any time you do that against a good team you’re going to pay,” Crow said.

Al Gandall rushed for 61 yards in 16 carries.