Copyright ocregister
Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now DANA POINT — Dana Hills and Laguna Beach shared the marquee for Orange County football on Friday in a clash of undefeated teams with high-powered offenses. The South County neighbors both thrived in the spotlight but Laguna Beach kept its perfect record. Jack Hurst threw for 387 yards and five touchdowns as Laguna Beach defeated host Dana Hills 49-40 to take sole possession of first place in the Foxtrot League. Laguna Beach (9-0, 4-0) took a 49-40 lead on a 10-yard touchdown run by Bob Gardner with 2:06 left in the fourth quarter and added the 2-point conversion. On the ensuing possession, Gardner intercepted a pass at his 41 as the Breakers again ended a historic start by Dana Hills (8-1, 3-1). Last season, Dana Hills started 8-0 before falling at Laguna Beach 35-32 in league. Laguna Beach, ranked 19th in the county, took a 27-26 lead going into the fourth quarter on Hurst’s 26-yard touchdown pass to Otis Boultinghouse with 1:13 left in the third. The Breakers executed a trick play on the first play of the fourth to extend their lead. Wide receiver Brady Stringham threw a 27-yard touchdown to Will Kimball, who made a spectacular diving catch in the corner of the end zone. Laguna Beach led 34-26 and weren’t caught. Running back Radley Geiss led Dana Hills by rushing for 232 yards and five TDs. He scored on a 29-yard TD run with 9:31 left in the fourth as the Dolphins trimmed the Laguna Beach lead to 34-32. But Hurst responded with a 78-yard touchdown pass to Stringham as the Breakers opened a 41-32 lead with 9:12 remaining to help seal the victory. Laguna Beach matched its best start since 1968. Dana Hills, ranked 17th in Orange County, tied the score 20-20 and took its first lead 26-20 on a pair of touchdown runs by Geiss in the third quarter. Laguna Beach led 20-13 after a back and forth first half behind three touchdown passes from Hurst. The junior capped the Breakers’ second possession with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Kimball as Laguna Beach capitalized on a high snap by a Dana Hills punt. Dana Hills responded with a 47-yard touchdown run by Geiss with two minutes left in the opening quarter. Geiss scored one play after an interception by Jack Norman. Hurst bounced back by connecting with Grant Regal for another score. Hurst completed a pass along the sideline to Regal and watched the wide receiver break away for a 69-yard touchdown for a 13-7 lead with 1:39 left in the first period. Dana Hills tied the score 13-13 in the middle of the second quarter on a 12-yard touchdown catch by Norman from Carter Anderson. The strike punctuated an 80-yard scoring drive. But Hurst had the final word in the first half. He found Regal again for an 8-yard TD as Laguna Beach took a 20-13 lead with 6:43 left in the half. Hurst completed 15 of 23 passes for 243 yards in the first half. Next week, Dana Hills plays host to Northwood on Thursday, Oct. 30. Laguna Beach takes on Orange on Friday, Oct. 31 at El Modena High.
