Josue gives Trabuco Hills big lift in first start

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Trabuco Hills quarterback A.J. Josue earned an expanded role in a victory last week. On Thursday, he made the most of his first start.

The left-handed senior threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran for 66 yards, to help lead the Mustangs to a 51-10 victory against host Huntington Beach in a Sea View League game.

Josue completed 17 of 22 passes and helped the Mustangs rack up 492 yards of offense despite playing without 500-yard rusher Dylan Buononato (injured).

Trabuco Hills (6-1, 2-0) is ranked third this week in the Southwest Division, and the Oilers (4-3, 1-1) are 10th.

“A.J. did a great job,” Trabuco Hills coach Jason Negro said. “He came in the last bit of the El Toro game (last week) and led us to 17 points. We just knew we had to go with him."

After a last-second victory against El Toro in their league opener, the Mustangs had more breathing room against the Oilers thanks to Josue. His first touchdown pass covered 58 yards to Ethan Hall with 34 seconds
left in the first quarter.

On  third-and-16, Hall took a short pass on a slip-screen route, picked up a block from fellow wide out Chris Simonton and bolted to the end zone to give the Mustangs a 10-0 lead.

Josue showed his deep passing late in the first half with a 30-yard touchdown strike to Hall with five secconds left as the Mustangs opened a 27-0 lead.

Hall finished with three receptions for 97 yards while Simonton, in his second game back from a hamstring injury, had six catches for 104 yards.

Shane DeCillo led the ground attack with 85 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. Josue also was an elusive runner. He showed excellent quickness on his scrambles.

Trabuco Hills’ defense also impressed, forcing three turnovers that led to 17 points. Defensive back J.B. Torsy helped provide a spark early with a leaping interception at his 3-yard line the Oilers' opening possession. The Mustangs' turned the pick into a 37-yard field goal by Mitch Murar and an early 3-0 lead. Murar, who kicked a game-winning field as the clock expired against El Toro, had three field goals against Huntington Beach. He also had a 60-yard punt.

The Oilers slowed Huntington Beach running back Jack Dilbeck. The senior entered the game with 798 yards but had 9 yards on six carries in the first half. He finished with 63.

Huntington Beach's spread passing attack was hurt by several dropped passes but the Mustangs' defenders showed excellent pursuit against a team that scored 59 points in its two previous games. Defensive linema E.J. Grimes had a tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery. The Mustangs defensive lineman Alex Kaplan recovered the other fumble.