Trabuco Hills Celebrates Big Victory

They bounced around on the field yelling, “Respect, respect!”

The coach’s postgame talk consisted of: “Do you believe?”

Trabuco Hills, undersized and wondering just how good it was, found out Friday night.

The Mustangs dominated fifth-ranked Fountain Valley, 24-7, in a nonleague game in front of about 2,500 at Trabuco Hills.

Coach Bill Crow called it the biggest victory in his four years at the school.

Brandon Heaney called it the best game he has played at quarterback--which now numbers five games.

And running Al Gandall called it the best game of his life. He rushed 28 times for 146 yards and a touchdown.

Crow coaxed an effort out of his defense that included some remarkable numbers, including total yardage: Trabuco Hills 312, Fountain Valley 167.

Heaney, an all-South Coast League wide receiver last year, completed five of 11 passes for 96 yards and one touchdown (34 yards to Advon Chestnut). He also kicked a 21-yard field goal for a 17-7 lead and ran 25 yards after a great fake to the fullback to make it 24-7 with 9 minutes 25 seconds left in the game.

Heaney passed for only two yards less than his highly-touted counterpart, Ryan Breska, who was averaging 20.1 yards per completion and had 10 touchdowns and no interceptions this season.

Breska finished eight for 24 with an interception and an 11-yard scoring pass to Nick Heinle to tie the score, 7-7, in the second quarter.

Breska paid the price for such a reputation. He was sacked four times--three by Joe Carrizosa and once by Dustin Pratt--and drilled repeatedly as he was releasing the ball.

“We wanted to keep on him,” said Heaney, who doubled as a strong safety. “We felt he was the key to their offense.”

Trabuco Hills’ undersized defensive line of Carrizosa (5-8, 175), Chris Radmacher (5-10, 195) and David Rukstalis (6-0, 185) helped limit Fountain Valley to 69 yards rushing in 24 carries.

The Barons (4-1) did play without starting tailback Adam Ramirez, who was injured.

Fountain Valley’s Aaron Carter, averaging 28 yards per catch, caught five passes for 49 yards.

With the victory, the Mustangs added a little credibility to their 4-1 record that includes some so-so opponents.

“We wanted to mix it up because [Fountain Valley] would be expecting the run,” Gandall said. “But our line stepped up huge.”

It’s the second game in a row Fountain Valley has scored only seven points, though it was enough to beat Servite last week.

“Hopefully, this is a growing up period for us,” Baron Coach George Berg said. “We’re going to have to get better taking on physical teams like this, because we have five [Sunset League opponents] coming up.”