Hawks Get Respect and a Victory

If its first game in its new league is any indication, Laguna Hills is going to fit in just fine. The Hawks defeated Woodbridge, 21-15, Friday night at Irvine Stadium in a knock-down-drag-out battle typical of the Sea View League.

“I think if we did anything tonight, we earned some respect,” Laguna Hills Coach Bruce Ingalls said. “And that was the main thing we wanted to accomplish.”

The Hawks scored two late touchdowns to come back from a 15-6 deficit.

Laguna Hills (4-2 overall, 1-0 in league) went on a 59-yard, 13-play drive which culminated in a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback Brandon Champlin.

Dan Kempff’s extra point pulled the Hawks to within eight (15-13) with 3:26 left in the game. Instead of trying an onside kick, Laguna Hills kicked the ensuing kickoff deep and relied on its defense to get the ball back.

And that’s just what the defense did. Woodbridge (4-2, 0-1), ranked eighth in the county, went three plays and out and also was penalized twice.

On fourth and four, Champlin, on a designed scramble, ran 13 yards for a first down to the 22-yard line. Wide receiver Jay Dale earned an assist on the play, clearing out the side by getting two Woodbridge defenders to follow him on a deep pattern.

“He warrants some attention,” Ingalls said of Dale. “He is a fast receiver.”

But Woodbridge didn’t pay enough attention to Dale on the next play. Dale got open behind the Woodbridge secondary and Champlin found him in the end zone. Mike Spraitz ran in the two-point conversion.