<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4MRVRH_0w2l0SwG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4MRVRH_0w2l0SwG00" width="1493" height="1387" ><figcaption>Dolphins linebackers Grant Peters and Thompson Foulger force a fumble near the goal line to stop Aliso Niguel’s last scoring threat in Dana Hills’ 20-10 league victory on Friday, Oct. 4. Photo: Don August</figcaption></figure>Behind Vanden Dugger’s three passing touchdowns, Dana Hills High secured its first FoxtrotLeague win against Aliso Niguel High, 20-10, on Friday, Oct. 4, in Dana Point.The game lived up to expectations, with both stands packed by energetic and vocal student sections, making it feel like a playoff atmosphere. The Dolphins (6-0) carried their momentum into league play, but the Wolverines (4-2) put up a tough battle and would not back down.It was a one-possession game until the final three minutes. Each offense turned the ball over multiple times, but their quarterbacks made plays to keep their chances alive.“I think there was a long time where the Dana (Hills) and Aliso (Niguel) matchup mattered to the students, but for league contending and playoffs, it didn’t matter,” Dana Hills head coach Tony Henney said. “What an atmosphere tonight! Two programs putting on a great show for everybody.”On the game’s opening possession, the Dolphins got junior Radley Geiss, their leading rusher and touchdown scorer, involved early with five touches. However, after crossing midfield, Dugger stepped up in the pocket on 3rd-and-6 and threw an interception to senior safety Max Blasing.Following the turnover, Dana Hills’ defense forced a 4th-and-short. The Wolverines gave the ball to their best offensive playmaker, senior running back Jarett Sabol, who entered the game with over 700 rushing yards and was averaging close to 7 yards per carry. Micah Langohr was unblocked off the edge and met Sabol in the backfield to force a turnover on downs. Langohr has emerged as one of the team’s best defenders, leading them in sacks (8) and tackles for loss (7).“The kid did an amazing job of getting his body ready to play varsity football this year,” Henney said of Langohr’s ascendence. “He works like crazy, always willing to put in extra work to get better, and it’s paying off. It’s fun to see for him.”Attempting to overcome the interception, Dugger began the drive with three completions and used his running ability to convert another first down, quickly regaining his confidence. On the opponent’s 21 yard-line, the Dolphins faced a 4th-and-10 following three incompletions.With Henney bypassing the field-goal attempt, Dugger found a wide-open junior Charlie “Chuck” Eckl up the seam for a touchdown to get the Dolphins on the scoreboard first.Aliso Niguel answered with a scoring drive on its next possession. With most of the attention on Sabol, junior quarterback Carter Vestermark used his legs more often than usual. On a designed quarterback keeper, Vestermark (318 total yards in the game) scored on a 35-yard touchdown run to tie the game, 7-7, near the end of the first quarter. The Wolverines defense then forced Dana Hills to punt. With their back against their goal line, the visitors orchestrated a long scoring drive. After picking up two first downs, Vestermark threw a 36-yard completion to senior Ryu Davis. Though the drive stalled at the 14-yard line, sophomore Asher Youderian made the field goal, giving Aliso Niguel its first and only lead, 10-7.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2Q9laW_0w2l0SwG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Q9laW_0w2l0SwG00" width="1440" height="1440" ><figcaption>Wide-open tight end Charlie “Chuck” Eckl hauls in a Vanden Dugger pass for the Dolphins’ first touchdown in the Dolphins’ 20-10 victory over Aliso Niguel on Friday, Oct. 4.&nbsp; Photo: Don August</figcaption></figure>The Dolphins answered with a scoring drive of their own. Geiss picked up three first downs on the ground, and Dugger threw his second touchdown to senior Cameron Weaver on a 25-yard fade route along the right sideline. After a couple of penalties, the extra-point attempt was unsuccessful, so the Dolphins led, 13-10.On the ensuing kickoff, the ball deflected off Aliso Niguel’s returner and junior Maksim Brown recovered the ball for the Dolphins.In prime position to score, Dana Hills lost possession when Wolverines junior Kaleo Elam intercepted Dugger’s heave into the end zone. With time running out in the half, Aliso Niguel went up-tempo and quickly drove downfield. This set up a field-goal attempt from the 14-yard line, which was no good. It remained 13-10 at halftime after a first half highlighted by three lead changes.Aliso Niguel’s first drive in the second half began with a 32-yard Vestermark run to enter Dolphins territory, but Dana Hills junior William Reardon short-circuited it by jumping a crossing route and intercepting a pass.Looking to capitalize on the turnover, a designed quarterback run by Dugger put Dana Hills at the 3-yard line. But the Wolverines rose up with a goal-line stand, stopping three rushing attempts and then holding the Dolphins out of the end zone when a fourth-down handoff exchange led to a fumble.After a quick 3-and-out by Aliso Niguel, the Dolphins drove inside the 20-yard line, only to be turned away again in the red zone when a field-goal attempt was wide. Sabol, a USC baseball commit, found some success late on the ground, picking up two first downs, but he was held to a season-low 52 rushing yards. After a scoreless third quarter, the game was still up for grabs. With seven minutes left, Geiss had his longest run of the game, 21 yards, and then the Dolphins’ leading receiver, James Leicester, had his first catch for 18 yards. Dugger then followed it up with a 15-yard run.On 3rd-and-8, Dugger rolled out to the right and threw a tight-window pass to Leicester for the game-clinching touchdown. Dugger finished the game with 199 total yards.“He had some ups and downs tonight, but when it counted, he made a couple of great plays that sealed the game for us,” Henney said of Dugger’s performance. “Proud of him for overcoming the mistakes.”Trailing, 20-10, with less than three minutes remaining, the Wolverines quickly moved downfield on a 47-yard reception by Dane Malloy, followed by a first-down catch by Jacob Denes. Vestermark then scrambled up the middle toward the goal line, where he was met by linebackers Grant Peters and Thompson Foulger. The ball came out, Dana Hills recovered, and then the Dolphins lined up in victory formation.Henney said it was “huge” to get the first league win. “This league is gonna be hotly contested – you’ve got to be ready to play these games week to week; you’re basically playing a playoff game every week,” Henney said. “It’s a fun atmosphere, but it’s also intense.”Up Next for DolphinsDana Hills traveled to Orange High (1-5) for its second league game on Thursday, Oct. 10, but the result was not available at press time. The Panthers were coming off their first win of the season, defeating Fountain Valley High by a touchdown. </div></body>

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Dana Hills High School Overcomes Red Zone Mistakes to Defeat Aliso Niguel, Remain Undefeated

Behind Vanden Dugger’s three passing touchdowns, Dana Hills High secured its first Foxtrot. League win against Aliso Niguel High, 20-10, on Friday, Oct. 4, in Dana Point. The game lived up to expectations, with both stands packed by energetic and vocal student sections, making it feel like a playoff atmosphere. The Dolphins (6-0) carried their momentum into league play, but the Wolverines (4-2) put up a tough battle and would not back down.

Dana Hills High School Overcomes Red Zone Mistakes to Defeat Aliso Niguel, Remain Undefeated

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