MacKenzie Has Some Help as Cougars Advance, 23-17

MISSION VIEJO — Senior Malaefou MacKenzie is normally Capistrano Valley’s headliner, but two of his teammates took center stage to lift the Cougars to a 23-17 victory over Long Beach Wilson Friday in a Southern Section Division I playoff game at Capistrano Valley High.

MacKenzie rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown in 25 carries, but Todd Puffer’s 68-yard touchdown reception energized the lethargic Cougars early in the third quarter and Charlie Landrigan’s 30-yard touchdown run with 1 minute 55 seconds remaining broke a 17-17 tie.

Landrigan scored on a fourth-and-one play to give the Cougars a 23-17 lead, then MacKenzie helped seal the victory by intercepting Derric Martin’s pass at midfield with 52 seconds remaining.

Capistrano Valley (8-3) advances to play third-seeded Los Angeles Loyola, which defeated Rialto Eisenhower, 27-24, in a second-round game. Wilson ends 8-3.

The Bruins controlled the game in the first half, taking a quick 7-0 lead after LeJuan Edwards scored on a 59-yard run 24 seconds into the game.

Capistrano Valley looked flat and its only first-half points came on a safety.

Puffer’s touchdown play woke up the Cougars on their first possession of the third quarter.

Facing a third and nine, Moherman, who completed seven of 11 passes for 117 yards, tossed a middle-screen pass to Puffer, who broke three tackles, then sprinted up the left sideline.

Landrigan caught a pass from Moherman for a two-point conversion to make it 10-7.

After a fumble recovery gave Capistrano Valley the ball back, MacKenzie scored on a 32-yard run to push the lead to 17-7 with 8:43 left in the third quarter.

Wilson pulled even, 17-17, after Germainie Mack scored on a one-yard run late in the third quarter and Jamie Ashley kicked a 22-yard field goal with 7:36 remaining.