MISSION VIEJO — Players on one side thought it was pass interference. Players on the other side thought it wasn’t. And those in the press box? Well, it was sketchy enough to write about.
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Taking advantage of a controversial pass interference penalty on fourth down, Trabuco Hills scored after time ran out in the first half and used the boost for a 28-14 victory over Brea Olinda in an Epsilon League opener Friday night.
It was a heck of a way to begin league play, especially for Brea. The Wildcats hadn’t played for three weeks — since Sept. 11 — because of a forfeit victory and a bye week.
Brea gave a good account of itself, scoring on its first possession and pulling within 21-14 in the fourth quarter.
But Trabuco Hills — one of the few Orange County teams that actually played a game last week — was sharper, maybe luckier, and certainly more opportunistic.
Luke Hoffman ran for two touchdowns, and sophomore quarterback Jackson Verplancke passed for two more to lead Trabuco, which improved to 3-2 overall, 1-0 in league.
Hoffman rushed 21 times for 123 yards, and Verplancke completed 14 of 30 passes for 136 yards and touchdowns to Nate Davis of 23 yards and Julian Downs of 26 with 1:45 remaining.
It was the pass to Davis that was so crucial.
It capped a 91-yard scoring drive that used up the quarter’s last 4:36 — and then some.
With five seconds left in the half on a fourth-and-20 situation, Verplancke had all kinds of time on the key play, eventually rolling to the right side of the field against a three-man rush before throwing the ball to the back of the end zone. There, alone, was Nate Davis. Owen Bailey’s kick made it 14-7.
“Wide open,” Davis said. “Jackson has great vision, I know he’s going to see me.”
But the drive was more than a half-ending prayer. The Mustangs began at their 9, lost four yards on the first play, and then benefited from a pass interference penalty on fourth-and-8 from the 50.
Brea wasn’t happy with the call, and for apparent good reason. The Wildcats could have had the ball at midfield with 1:15 to go. Instead of roughing up Trabuco’s defense, the Wildcats roughed the quarterback two plays later.
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It was a sloppy ending to the half. The 12-play drive included six incompletions in a seven-play span before the Hail Mary.
But it didn’t matter to Trabuco. The Mustangs took what was there.
“It was horrible,” Brea coach Justin Villasenor said after his team fell to 4-2 overall, 0-1 in league. “Our guys were playing tough all night, but (Trabuco Hills) got bailed out on that drive. Running around for 10 seconds, that was tough to cover. But hats off to them, they executed and played a hell of a game.”
Trabuco Hills coach Mark Nolan thought the officiating evened out. He heaped praise on Brea for its effort despite not playing for three weeks because of circumstances beyond its control.
“Big plays on fourth down for our defense, big plays on fourth down for our offense …” Nolan said. “We had some no calls, but we did get some calls. It all evens out in the end.”
Brea Olinda’s Tristan Kim scored on the game’s first possession, a 10-yard run, as the Wildcats took a 7-0 lead. Trabuco answered immediately, with Hoffman scoring five plays later with the first of two 1-yard scores.
Brea missed a field goal attempt near the end of the first quarter on the ensuing possession. Then came the action at the end of the half.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but another Hoffman TD made it 21-7 with 10:59 remaining.
With the game clock winding down, Brea made it 21-14 with a sweet three-play, 63-yard drive capped by a 23-yard scoring pass from Gavyn Nicholson to Kim.
Trabuco showed its ability to finish. After recovering an onside kick at its 48, Hoffman ran for 26 yards, and a couple of plays later, Verplancke passed 26 yards to Julian Downs.
Nicholson passed for 98 yards and rushed 11 tims for 108 yards in a losing effort. Brea outgained Trabuco, 319 yards to 292.
Trabuco’s defense recorded four sacks, including three by Logan Zack.
“The late touchdown at the end of the first half, and the late one at the end of the second half,” Nolan said. “That’s the game right there.”
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