Manning Leads Trabuco Hills Past Cabrillo

MISSION VIEJO —  Trabuco Hills High School quarterback Tim Manning considers himself more of a running back, but his coach, Jim Barnett, isn’t so sure.

“I think Tim’s underrated as a passer,” Barnett said. “He can really throw the ball well.”

Manning was a little bit of both Friday night as the Mustangs beat Cabrillo High School, 35-21, Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Division VIII playoffs at Capistrano Valley High School.

Manning rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 158 yards and another score as the Mustangs advanced to the semifinals against Santa Clara. Ben Rooker ran for 136 yards and a touchdown for the Mustangs (11-1).

Manning, a 6-foot, 180-pound senior, scored on two one-yard runs and threw to Peter Burke on a nine-yard touchdown pass play to offset a three-touchdown performance by Cabrillo wide receiver Rick Hasris.

Trabuco Hills had 488 yards total offense to Cabrillo’s 118, but the Conquistadors stayed in the game behind two long kickoff returns by Harris.

The Mustangs wasted little time showing why they are the defending Division VIII champions. They took the opening kickoff 73 yards in nine plays, capped by a 20-yard touchdown run by Peter Burke.

Julian Ford set up Trabuco Hills’ second score when he intercepted a Rob Cardenas pass at the Mustang 42-yard line.

The Mustangs drove 54 yards before Manning scored from the one to put them ahead, 13-0, with one second left in the first quarter. Brent Roper missed the extra-point attempt.

Burke’s second touchdown, a nine-yard pass play from Manning, put the Mustangs ahead, 21-0, with 4:06 left in the first half.

Harris gave Cabrillo its only highlight of the first half when he returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.

But Harris, a 6-4 and 190 pounds, wasn’t done yet.

He took the opening kickoff of the second half 90 yards for a touchdown to trim Cabrillo’s deficit to 21-13. Troy Debiase missed the extra-point attempt.

“We held them to only (118) yards offense, but we gave up 200 yards in kickoff returns,” Barnett said, laughing.

Rooker scored on a four-yard run with 6:49 left in the third quarter to push Trabuco Hills’ lead to 28-13. James Skidmore intercepted a pass by Cardenas at the Cabrillo 45 to set up the drive.

Manning added his second one-yard touchdown with 3:30 left and Harris caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Cardenas in the final seconds to produce the final score.