Trabuco Hills, Arntson Get Reprieve

As Jay Arntson watched his 42-yard field goal attempt sail two feet wide, all he could think of “was the bus ride home and how I let the team down after they tried so hard.”

Arntson, a junior at Trabuco Hills, was so consumed by his thoughts, he had no idea he was at the center of a controversial official’s ruling--roughing the kicker--that would give him one more chance to give his team a victory.

Arntson responded with a 30-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to lift seventh-ranked Trabuco Hills to a 10-7 South Coast League victory over host Mission Viejo.

“I knew the second one would go in because the first one was so close,” Arntson said of his game-winning field goal.

As for the penalty, “I just knew it was a sign from God I was going to make the kick,” Arntson said.

Trabuco Hills (6-1, 2-0 in league) began its game-winning drive at its own one-yard line with 3:16 left in the game. The Mustangs, held to six yards in the first half, hardly appeared ready to take the ball down and score. But they got all the breaks.

Quarterback Chris Cordova, making his second start of the season, fumbled on a second-and-seven play, but the ball was recovered by Dustin Pratt for a 10-yard gain.

Cordova completed only four of 10 passes, but one was a 14-yard completion to Justin Junge.

Though Mission Viejo (4-3, 1-1) committed only four penalties, one was on the first play of the drive to move the ball to the six, and the other moved the ball from the 25 to the 13.

The last penalty was called against Will Redanz, who played a marvelous game at linebacker. Redanz, a junior, had blocked a 33-yard field-goal attempt in the second quarter, sacked Cordova twice and had a key nine-yard carry on the Diablos’ only scoring drive.

“The flag came so late,” an exasperated Mission Viejo Coach Steve Carnes said, “it was unbelievable.”

Arntson’s heroics salvaged a horrible night for the Mustangs, who were outgained in the first half, 168-6, before Crow laid into his team at halftime.

“It wasn’t a pleasant sight,” Crow said. “Sometimes you need a kick-start.”

Trabuco Hills’ defense, which has allowed only one touchdown in each of the last four games, got a fumble recovery at the Mission Viejo 29.

Five plays later, Al Gandall scored from two yards and Arntson tied the score with the point after.

Mission Viejo missed a critical scoring opportunity at the end of the first half.

Holding a 7-0 lead, the Diablos gained possession at the Trabuco Hills 44 with 1:37 left in the half. John Hudgins passed 39 yards to Alex Honigford on the first play, Badraun ran for three, and then Bowling ran twice for two. Without a remaining timeout, the clock ran out with the Diablos trying to get off a play.