LAKE FOREST – After a close but sloppy win over rival Trabuco Hills last week, El Toro coach Robert Frith told his team to erase it out of their memories and start the new week with a clean slate.
El Toro quarterback Trey Tinsley took that clean slate and painted a masterpiece.
Tinsley threw five touchdown passes, including three to Kaleb Fossum, in a 52-7 nonleague victory over Bell Gardens on Friday night at El Toro.
“It wasn’t perfect,” Frith said, “but it was excellent.”
The slight imperfection came with a sluggish start as El Toro (5-1) tried to establish the run early, but could only manage a 20-yard field goal from Tyler Butcher for a 3-0 lead over Bell Gardens (0-5) late in the first quarter.
The Chargers kicked into gear in the quarter’s final minute as Tinsley threw his first touchdown to Fossum, a 45-yard pass and catch, for a 10-0.
The touchdown capped the first of three consecutive scoring drives for El Toro as its offensive pace quickened.
“We started to play fast,” Frith said. “It helped with our tempo and we got into a rhythm collecting first downs.”
After El Toro’s one defensive mistake led to a 30-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Cardenas to Juan Carranza, the Chargers responded quickly.
Tinsley initiated a 36-yard hook-and-ladder play with a short throw to Taylor Dodds, who pitched to Fossum for the big gain. Tinsley and Fossum hooked up again for a 24-yard touchdown pass and a 17-7 lead.
On El Toro’s next possession, Tinsley found Fossum once more for a 40-yard touchdown pass and a 23-7 halftime lead.
Fossum finished with three receptions for 133 yards and three touchdowns.
El Toro scored on its first three possessions of the second half, two 14-yard touchdown passes from Tinsley to Brendan Lane and Dodds, and a 76-yard touchdown run by junior Issac Furnari, for a 43-7 lead.
Tinsley finished 22 of 32 passing for 408 yards and five touchdowns.
Defensively, the Chargers pulled in four interceptions, two from Joe Schottmiller; three sacks, two by Joshua Sanchez; and added a safety in the fourth quarter.
El Toro closed the scoring with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Robert Gagne to Nick Furnari.
