Trabuco Hills clears first playoffs hurdle
November 22nd, 2008, 11:27 pm · 22 Comments · posted by ocvarsity
By MARTIN HENDERSON
Special to OCVarsity
PLACENTIA -- Trabuco Hills, runner-up a year ago in the CIF-SS Southwest Division, knew that the first playoff game is sometimes a big hurdle.
The Mustangs were breathing a lot easier having gotten over that hurdle Saturday night by posting a 35-21 victory over Valencia.
Trabuco Hills (7-4) will play host to third-seeded Western next weekend. Valencia finished 8-3.
“We don’t have a whole lot of returners back from last season,” Trabuco Hills coach Jason Negro said. “I was nervous about how our kids would respond, how J.J. Mayer would respond.”
Mayer, the first-year starting quarterback, responded fine. He completed 7 of 10 passes for 156 yards, with two second-half interceptions.
Most impressive, he was 5 of 6 for 130 yards in the first half, including a 46-yard touchdown pass to Chris Simonton for a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
Simonton had given Trabuco Hills the early lead with a 2-yard run.
Shane DeCillo made his mark as well. He rushed 28 times for 120 yards and touchdowns of 1 and 3 yards.
The first was perhaps the most important. Just 2 minutes, 14 seconds after Valencia QB David Pina scored from 11 yards, DeCillo capped a seven-play, 80-yard drive.
Less than two minutes later, with 1 minute left on the first-half clock, Donnie Simonsen’s 38-yard interception return made it an insurmountable 28-7.
22 Comments
Media Partners :
KOCE |
MSNBC |
OCExcelsior |
Home Magazine |
Coast Magazine |
Preferred Destinations Magazine |
KPCC |
KMEX |
NguoiViet |
RSS Feed 
|
Contact us |
Privacy policy |
User agreement |
Corrections |
Career opportunities |
Advertise with us |
About us|
Archives |
Homes
Cars |
Jobs |
OC Single Scene |
California Lottery |
Register Insiders |
Register in Education |
Buy our Photos |
Feedback |
Local Businesses |
OC H.S. Sports
Congrats to Trabuco Hills on a very well played game, they just had to much team speed for Valencia to handle,they have a very good defense with fast Linebacker's and DB's and they swarm to the ball and tackle very well they also have a well balenced offense,should give Western a lot of trouble, good luck the rest of the way.
Thanks empire fan for those nice comments. Valencia players played hard and showed class in a time when usually the emotions carry over, this shows that this team is mature and well coached. Our boys thought it was so cool to here positive comments at the end of the game from the Valencia team. Valencia football hold your heads high you guys are good for the high school football.
Looks like my prediction has come true (once again). Two of the three Empire League teams have been knocked out in the first round. It seems this new Southwest Division may be a bit more challenging for them than most expected. Congrats to Cypress and Valencia on posting respectable win-loss records (against mostly inferior competition) but this is where the BIG DOGS play and for this year at least, you are clearly OUT of your league.
We are all very proud of the way this reletively inexperienced playoff team played last night against Valencia. Staring at the "75 years of tradition" signs posted in the end zone of the Tigers home field, The Mustangs came out and delivered a couple of quick blows from which the Tigers could never quite recover. Despite being the smaller of the two teams, The Mustangs show speed on both sides of the ball and with their linebackers serving as the backbone of the defense and the offense relentless, scoring over 80 points in their last 2 games.
Hats off to The Mustangs, they now have that first notch in their belts and you can count on more of the same this weekend! GO MUSTANGS.
I agree with stickem its the time to walk the walk but its just not the players its also about the coaches congrats to all the teams headed for more the second round is truley where the big dogs play thats were it gets interesting most teams squeeze through the first round it takes good coaching and preperation to make it this far and trabuco hills came to play as did La habra, western and tustin good luck to all in the end you had a great season.
I knew Trabuco would win. A lot people left them high & dry. So congrats Mustang.
STICKEM2 your prediction did come true again! And loarapops you are right about coaching and preperation to make it ! The Mighty Empire League has had a Team or Teams' in the CIF Final's three straight year's now!!! PaCIFica played LaHabra and bearly lost 27-21 in 2002!!! Coach Jim O'Connell lead Tesoro to back to back CIF Title's 04'-05' and was also a long time Coach at PaCIFica!!! Valencia has been to the final's 4 time's, PaCIFica has also been to the Final's 4 time's, Kennedy twice, and Cypress and Loara one time!!! So Empire League Team's, Coach's, Player's and Fan's like us are Champion's both on and off the Glorious Field of Battle!!! Chamipon's train to be Great Leader's in our Family's, Job's and Communities where we live!!! Thank You Coach Jim O'Connell, Bill Craven for Training me to be a Champ!!! Steve Wynn thank's you too, I'm on his Team Now! ENCORE open's Dec. 22 2008...CRUNCHBUNCH 4 EVER...
WESTERN IS READY TO PLAY. IT SHOULD BE A GOOD GAME
you mustangs better be ready for ruben ortega he being scouted from usc... he's all power cant stop him
wooooo
just can't wait to play trabuco hills
western is a team who won't quit till the last
second in the clock
We will see about Ruben Ortega...A few hits from our stellar line backers Like Chris Triana and Ty Logsdon will give him something to think about. I hope he can run when he gets the ball because they wont have that many offensive opportunities. The Mustangs are fired up... Watch out Western. Not in our house, sorry!
ha, mustang man is right, NOT IN OUR HOUSE. my brother is going to blow you kids up. you'll know which one he is trust me
Mustang Man, and thhsbro, I'm not one that likes to talk trash, but all i have to say is once WESTERN gets done with the "mustangs" they're going to look more like ponies.
#61 , #19 & # 20 ,
We dont like trash talking either. We will give Ortega his due "props" but he really hasn't played against an upstart defense like the Mustangs. He should practice this week by running into a brick wall to get himself ready for Fridays game, because that wil be very similar to what he will face come game time... GO MUSTANGS.
They said Valencia would run all over us. We stuffed their RB. Our linebackers will stuff Western as well. The hardest part for Western will be dealing with our vicious home croud. GO BLUE!
Lets just say Western is going to have their hands full... Going into Trabuco Hills Stadium is like going into the lions den for opposing teams.... We beat Valencia in their house without a problem and Western will find out the true meaning of home field advantage...
Just wait!!!! GO MUSTANGS!!!
Make no mistake, Western vs. Trabuco is going to be a great game. Count on the weather to be a factor this Friday. If it rains, the running game will come heavily into play. Two great teams with two great running traditions. The battle on the line of scrimmage will tell the tale.
Last year 2 finals games were played in the rain, the Mustangs loved it, didn't slow them down one bit. They actually looked forward to playing in the mud, unfortunately Mustang stadium has turf but the team has confidence rain or shine. Yes the student section can get carried away with their chants but overall they're not any worse than any other school. Expect a large TH crowd that will be very loud, we love our team. Parking isn't that bad, there is plenty of room up top on the softball fields, it's actually easier than when you parked in the lots. Should be a good game, I can't wait. GO MUSTANGS!
valencia is still number 1.
trabuco... you guys suck
lets play again.
ALL DAY!!!
Hey Isaac Dominguez...Whay to keep your comments above the line my man...All I have to say is if Trabuco "sucks" as you so eloquently stated, what does that have to say for Valencia?? You guys REALLY suck then...
Oh and one more thing Isaac... We dont want to play again, "all day" We have moved on to bigger and better things...You guys had your chance but weren't up to the task..It was GREAT coming into your house and keeping The Tigers on their heels all night...Say what you want my man...The score says it all 35 points....NICE DEFENSE!! HA HA HA HA HA HA