Trice Helps Ocean View to Victory

Ocean View and Laguna Beach have football teams in similar situations. Both are trying to emerge after several lean seasons.

But the Seahawks showed in their 33-7 victory over the Artists Thursday at Huntington Beach High that they are making faster progress.

The victory was Ocean View’s third in four games, and the first time the Seahawks have won three games in a season since 1995.

Laguna Beach, which ended a 27-game losing streak last week by defeating Capistrano Valley Christian, slipped to 1-3.

Although first-year Coach Harold Eggers will gladly take the victory, he and Laguna Beach Coach Dave Holland said right now they are more interested in their team’s progress than in wins and losses.

“At present we’re trying to get the players going in a positive direction,” Eggers said. “We’re trying to get them to the point where they can be at the next level, and compete for the [Golden West] league.”

Holland, in his third year, said the Artists have made getting into the playoffs their goal. “But the first thing is to improve from week to week.”

The Seahawks got a big boost by the return of senior running back Matt Trice, who had undergone hernia surgery in August. In his first game back, Trice--who entered in the second quarter--rushed for 104 yards, caught five passes for 43 yards and scored two touchdowns.

“I was anxious to get in a game, and I felt pretty good tonight,” Trice said. “I’m still not in prime game shape yet, but I am feeling healthy.”

“We are a much different team with him,” Eggers said. “He opens up the game for the other players.”

He certainly did Thursday. Quarterback Scott McMahan, primarily on screens and slants to Trice and receiver Deshai Houston, passed for 236 yards and two touchdowns. Houston, a junior, caught three passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.

Laguna Beach’s touchdown came on a nine-yard scoring pass from quarterback Ryan Schissler to receiver Noel Cannon.

The Seahawks opened the game with a 70-yard, six-play drive that was all Jason Rhoads. The sophomore running back rushed for 13 yards in four carries, then took a screen pass from McMahan and threaded his way through defense to complete a 57-yard touchdown play.