Trabuco Hills quarterback Jackson Verplancke (7) throws the ball during a nonleague game against El Toro in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Trabuco Hills wide receiver Jaden Raimondo (21), left, carries the ball during a nonleague game against El Toro in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
El Toro’s wide receiver Bryce Thacker (1) makes a touchdown catch in the 4th quarter during a nonleague game against Trabuco Hills in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Trabuco Hills Nate Davis (4) catches the ball while on the run during a nonleague game against El Toro in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Trabuco Hills students dress in patriotic colors as they cheer on the Mustangs during a home football game on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 at the school in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Trabuco Hills Beckham Nolan (10) catches the ball while running up the sideline during a nonleague game against El Toro in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
El Toro wide receiver Henry Maffetore (17) breaks a couple tackles while carrying the ball during a nonleague game against Trabuco Hills in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
El Toro quarterback Jaxson Algaze (6) throws the ball during a nonleague game against Trabuco Hills in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Trabuco Hills’ Beckham Nolan (10) catches the ball while running up the sideline during a nonleague game against El Toro in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
El Toro wide receiver Bryce Thacker (1) uses a stiff arm while carrying the ball during a nonleague game against Trabuco Hills in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Trabuco Hills wide receiver Nate Davis (4) makes a diving catch during a nonleague home game against El Toro in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Trabuco Hills quarterback Jackson Verplancke (7) throws the ball during a nonleague game against El Toro in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Trabuco Hills wide receiver Jaden Raimondo (21) carries the ball during a nonleague game against El Toro in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
El Toro running back Ethan Rodriguez (8) carries the ball during a nonleague game against Trabuco Hills in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Trabuco Hills Mustangs take the field for a nonleague home game against El Toro in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Trabuco Hills wide receiver Jaden Raimondo (21) carries the ball during a nonleague game against El Toro in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
El Toro quarterback Jaxson Algaze (6) throws the ball during a nonleague game against Trabuco Hills in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
El Toro quarterback Jaxson Algaze (6) throws the ball during a nonleague game against Trabuco Hills in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Trabuco Hills quarterback Jackson Verplancke (7) throws the ball during a nonleague game against El Toro in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Trabuco Hills students dress in patriotic colors as they cheer on the Mustangs during a home football game on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 at the school in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
El Toro running back Ethan Rodriguez (8) carries the ball during a nonleague game against Trabuco Hills in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Trabuco Hills quarterback Jackson Verplancke (7) throws the ball during a nonleague game against El Toro in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
El Toro quarterback Jaxson Algaze (6) throws the ball during a nonleague game against Trabuco Hills in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
MISSION VIEJO – Trabuco Hills established the fact early that it was the better football team, at least on this Friday night.
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The Mustangs took the opening kickoff and put together a muscular 13-play, 80-yard touchdown drive on their way to a 42-24 nonleague win over El Toro at Trabuco Hills High.
Trabuco Hills is 3-1. The Mustangs were not in this week’s Orange County Football Top 25. Trabuco Hills is almost a sure thing to be in the county rankings when they are posted Monday.
El Toro (3-1) was No. 23 in this week’s Orange County Top 25.
Trabuco Hills senior running back Luke Hoffman rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. He also scored on a shovel pass, taking the ball in the backfield before hitting the accelerator on his way to a 44-yard touchdown play.
Thomas Luce scored on a fumble return for the Mustangs. Trabuco Hills sophomore quarterback Jackson Verplancke completed 13 of 21 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Verplancke also ran for a touchdown.
Mustangs receiver Nate Davis had four receptions for 83 yards. Beckham Nolan had three receptions for 74 yards for Trabuco Hills.
Trabuco Hills coach Mark Nolan liked the way his team flexed its power early and maintained that for much of the game’s 48 minutes.
“I’m really pleased with what we were able to do at the line of scrimmage,” Nolan said. “We felt like we were kind of in control, even though some things happened that didn’t go our way. We got some great calls by Joe Silvey and the rest of the defensive staff and Coach Andrew Nielsen with the special teams.”
El Toro’s sophomore quarterback Jaxson Algaze completed 13 of 21 passes for 161 yards and two second-half touchdowns. The Chargers’ Matt Arroyo scored on an interception return and on a reception, and scored on a two-point conversion reception.
Eleven of that game-opening drive’s 13 plays were Hoffman running plays. It ended with a short jump pass from Verplancke to tight end Dillan Olson on fourth down for a 2-yard scoring play and a 7-0 lead. On that drive Trabuco Hills offensive lineman Connor Renshaw recovered a fumble to maintain possession for the Mustangs. Trabuco Hills converted on three fourth downs on that drive.
El Toro fumbled on the ensuing kickoff. Luce grabbed the loose ball at the El Toro 21-yard line and sprinted unopposed to the end zone to make it 14-0.
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Hoffman scored on a 14-yard run with 4:04 to go in the second quarter for a 21-0 lead. Two minutes later Verplancke fired a perfectly-placed ball to Beckham Nolan as Nolan crossed the goal line for a 34-yard touchdown pass that stretched the Mustangs lead to 28-0.
El Toro’s Maverick Roney kicked a 49-yard field goal on the final snap of the first half to make it 28-3 at halftime.
The Chargers got their first touchdown early in the third quarter on Arroyo’s interception return of 21 yards. That trimmed the Trabuco lead to 28-10.
Verplancke scored on a 3-yard run around the left side for a touchdown and a 35-10 lead. Hoffman took a shovel pass and raced 44 yards for another Trabuco Hills touchdown that expanded the lead to 42-10.
Algaze and Arroyo connected on a 78-yard touchdown pass with seven seconds left in the third quarter. The pass for a two-point try was incomplete, leaving Trabuco Hills ahead, 42-16.
The Chargers got closer midway through the fourth quarter on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Algaze to Bryce Thacker. Algaze passed to Arroyo for two points, making it 42-24 which would be the final score.
The Trabuco Hills offensive line that played so well included Renshaw, Jackson Sarabia, Jesse Rocha, Jonah Cummings and Trey Weber with Olson at tight end. Zain Nasr and Zachary Taylor played significant minutes.
Renshaw was happy with the way the offensive line unit played Friday.
“We played really well today,” he said. “We work really hard, and we’re just really consistent. We’ve got a dog (Hoffman) at running back, too.”
El Toro’s next game is an on-campus home game against Summit on Friday (Sept. 18).
Trabuco Hills does not play next week. The Mustangs’ next game is against El Modena at El Modena High on Sept. 25.
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