Sea View League : Laguna Beach Picks Up the Loose Ends for Victory

Laguna Beach High School capitalized on two fumble recoveries to score two touchdowns to gain a 21-17 come-from-behind victory over Estancia Friday night in Davidson Field.

Wide receiver Daxon Dorsch caught two touchdown passes following the fumble recoveries as the Artists overcame a 17-7 deficit to gain their second Sea View League victory. Laguna Beach is 2-3 in league and 2-6 overall.

Defensive linemen Mike Soudjain and Sean Mahoney set up both of the Artists’ scores with fumble recoveries as Estancia quarterback Mike Rosellini had trouble handling the ball on the damp field.

Estancia (1-4 and 3-5) built a 10-point lead behind the rushing of tailback Craig Conte but saw the lead dwindle quickly.

Mahoney set up the Artists’ second touchdown when he recovered a fumble at Estancia’s 36-yard line. Five plays later, Dorsch made a leaping catch for a 28-yard touchdown reception.

Soudjian set up the Artists’ last touchdown by recovering a fumble at Estancia’s 44-yard line. Kimball needed only five plays to find the end zone and the go-ahead touchdown was a perfect pass to Dorsch in the far corner of the Eagle end zone.

Kimball completed 6 of 14 passes for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns. Dorsch caught two passes for 66 yards and 2 touchdowns.

It was quite a turnaround for the Artists, who were coming off their worst loss in the school’s history, a 68-27 loss to Newport Harbor. Afterwards, Artists Coach Cedrick Hardman was asked how his team had reacted to the lopsided loss.

“I told the players to put things behind us and get ready for Estancia,” he said. “We didn’t have time to reflect upon what happened against Newport. We’ve traveled a real rocky road, but we’re alive.”

Estancia gained 203 yards rushing and Conte finished with 154 yards on 26 carries and scored twice. But two fumbles proved to be the difference.