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El Toro’s football team used an offensive explosion to deliver Peter Lofthouse his first victory as the team’s coach Friday.
The Chargers defeated Western 70-47 in a nonleague game at El Toro High.
El Toro (1-2) more than tripled the combined point total from its previous two games in upsetting Western (1-2), ranked No. 21 in Orange County. The Chargers scored a combined 20 points in losses against Tustin (35-6) and Aliso Niguel (28-14).
“I’m very proud of our players and coaches,” Lofthouse said. “We started the game down 14-0, and for everybody to respond to the early adversity was great.”
Running back Makya Chee and quarterback Jack McKelvey led El Toro’s rally.
Chee rushed 11 times for 183 yards and five touchdowns while McKelvey completed 22 of 28 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns.
Noah Williams added five receptions for 113 yads and a score for the Chargers.
Western played without quarterback Chance Thomas (collarbone). Pioneers coach Dan Davidson called Thomas’ probability of playing next week “50-50.”
Last season, Western defeated El Toro 34-7.
In other games Friday:
Marina 21, Fountain Valley 6: The Vikings (3-0) continued to play strong defense as they defeated the Barons (1-2) at Westminster High. Marina has allowed only 19 points or 6.3 points per game.
Beckman 45, Canyon 28: The Patriots (3-0) jumped out to a 28-14 lead at halftime and held on against the Comanches (1-2).
Canyon quarterback Alex Lundsberg extended his strong start by completing 33 of 43 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns.
Kellen Rommelfanger was the top target with 15 receptions for 184 yards and two scores. Noah McClary added nine catches for 116 yards and a TD.
Laguna Beach 51, Kennedy 0: Minnesota-committed quarterback Jackson Kollock passed for 139 yards and a touchdown and Declan Murray rushed for two scores to pace the host Breakers (3-0).
Troy 33, Fullerton 13: Ethan Mundt rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns and Vander Ploog tallied nine catches for 131 yards to lead the Warriors (3-0) past the Indians (0-2) at Fullerton High.
Troy quarterback Rudy Alcala completed 17 of 29 passes for 195 yards.
JSerra 35, Clovis North 6: Logan Christensen returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown as the host Lions (3-0) avenged one of their losses from last season. Clovis North defeated JSerra 23-7 last season.
Crean Lutheran 48, Liberty of Winchester 0: Cal committed linebacker Carter Jones had 14 total tackles and Anthony Jones recorded two sacks to lead the host Saints (3-0).
Quarterback Caden Jones, the younger brother of Carter, completed 13 of 16 passes for 172 yards and two TDs.
Higley of Arizona 25, San Juan Hills 20: Timmy Herr passed for 261 yads and two touchdowns and Ryan Matheson had six catches for 131 yards and one score for the host Stallions (2-1). Higley was a Division 5A champion last season in Arizona.
— Dan Albano
Santa Margarita 42, Liberty 3: James Johnson threw five touchdown passes for Santa Margarita in a win over Liberty of Bakersfield.
Johnson transferred to Santa Margarita (2-1) from Servite in 2023 but suffered a season-ending injury in the season opener.
Trent Mosley had 111 yards receiving with two touchdowns and sophomore Jack Junker had 146 yards with two touchdowns. Luke Anderson had two interceptions for Santa Margarita. Logan Hirou and Tonga Uhila each had one interception and Uhila added a sack.
Tesoro 38, La Mirada 28: KC Cuillard returned two interceptions for touchdowns in Tesoro’s road win over La Mirada.
Cash O’Byrne threw a touchdown pass and ran for a touchdown for Tesoro (2-1). Wyatt Brady ran for a touchdown and Braiden Vaca had a touchdown reception.
Irvine 36, Woodbridge 0: Deacon Moss had two touchdown receptions for Irvine in a rout of Woodbridge.
Khoa Bui threw for over 120 yards with two touchdown passes for Irvine (2-1). Sina Saferzadeh had a touchdown run for the Vaqueros and Jaden Burke recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown.
Brandon Figueroa added a rushing touchdown for Irvine and was the team’s leading rusher.
Aliso Niguel 33, Chino 14: Jarett Sabol ran for 223 yards and had two rushing touchdowns in Aliso Niguel’s win over Chino.
Vincent Caito and Cameron Levine had touchdown receptions for Aliso Niguel (3-0). Max Blasing had a touchdown reception and an interception. His brother, freshman Brody Blasing, had an interception in the fourth quarter.
Carter Vestermark threw for 137 yards with three touchdowns. Aliso Niguel is 3-0 for the first time since 2021.
Mission Viejo 46, Liberty of Nevada 0: Vance Spafford had three touchdowns for Mission Viejo in a dominant win over Liberty of Henderson, Nevada.
Alabama commit Dijon Lee returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown. Hinesward Lilomaiava had a touchdown run for the Diablos (3-0).
Kale’ Murphy threw a touchdown pass to Carson Vandermade. Draiden Trudeau had two touchdown passes, both to Spafford.
Santa Ana 20, Garden Grove 19: Carlos Guerrero ran for over 250 yards with three touchdowns for Santa Ana in a close win over Garden Grove.
It was Luis Cruz’s first win as the head coach for Santa Ana (1-2).
Erick Ugalde had an interception to seal the win for the Saints.
Calvin Keovphan threw three touchdown passes for Garden Grove (1-2). Aaron Payan had two touchdown receptions and Quentin Pacelli added one.
Century 42, Azusa 14: Century ran for over 300 yards and had six rushing touchdowns in a win over Azusa on Thursday night.
Noe Najera led Century (3-0) with over 100 yards and three touchdowns. Derek Carillo had two rushing touchdowns. Derek Lemus and Ramon Toribio had interceptions and Carillo recovered a fumble.
Under coach Lance Neal, Century already has more wins than it had in the last five seasons combined.
Esperanza 45, Valencia 28: Travis Frazier threw three touchdown passes and ran for another in Esperanza’s win over Valencia.
Ethan Luong, Eddie Matthews and Edward Khutshivili caught touchdown passes for Esperanza (2-0). Davian Franco returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Brody Synder added a rushing touchdown.
Sonora 42, Walnut 6: Sonora ran for 354 yards and six touchdowns in its first win of the season.
Anthony Abad ran for 195 yards with five touchdowns for Sonora (1-2). Alexsay Nazaroff ran for 110 yards on four carries with a touchdown.
Isaac Torres had an interception for the Raiders and Michael Azpeitia had a sack.
— Michael Huntley
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