Aliso Niguel’s Rally Thwarts Laguna Hills

Joel Smith passed for 249 yards and Steven Berneking kicked three field goals as Aliso Niguel rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Laguna Hills, 23-19, Friday night in a Sea View League game at Mission Viejo High.

Smith brought the Wolverines back from a 13-6 deficit when he threw a short swing pass to Trent Carroll, who picked up a couple of good blocks down the right sideline, avoided one tackle near the 10, and completed a 62-yard scoring play. Berneking’s point-after tied the score, 13-13, with 10:38 left to play. It didn’t stay even long.

Laguna Hills (3-5, 0-3) couldn’t move the ball, and after a short punt, Aliso Niguel took over at the Laguna Hills 37.

Four plays later, the Wolverines (3-5, 1-1) were in the end zone again. Smith hooked up with Dominic Ruiz for a 30-yard gain, then, two plays later, hit Geoff Molinski with a seven-yard touchdown pass. The PAT made the score 20-13 with 8:41 to play.

The Wolverine defense took it from there, with Michael Mudge recovering a Laguna Hills fumble at the Aliso Niguel 45. Nine plays and almost five minutes later, Berneking connected on his third field goal, this one from 30 yards out. The others were from 34 and 30 yards.

For Laguna Hills, Matt Chandler rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown in 13 carries and Chris Johnson completed 13 of 20 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns.

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SEA VIEW

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League Overall School W L T W L T Irvine 2 0 0 8 0 0 Newport Harbor 2 1 0 6 2 0 Aliso Niguel 1 1 0 3 5 0 Woodbridge 1 1 0 3 5 0 Laguna Hills 0 3 0 3 5 0

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WEEK 8

Thursday’s results

* Newport Harbor 36, Woodbridge 8

Friday’s results

* Irvine 28, Fairfax 0

* Aliso Niguel 23, Laguna Hills 19

WEEK 9

Thursday, Nov. 2

Laguna Hills at Irvine

Friday, Nov. 3

Newport Harbor at Cathedral City

Woodbridge at Aliso Niguel