Laguna Beach Rallies to Defeat Northwood

Quarterback Todd Merz threw for 245 yards to lead Laguna Beach to a 31-21 victory over Northwood in a Pacific Coast League game Thursday night at Trabuco Hills High School.

Merz completed 10 of 19 passes with no interceptions, including a 60-yard touchdown pass to Will Blodgett early in the fourth quarter. Blodgett caught four passes for 163 yards.

The Artists (2-7, 1-3) scored 17 consecutive points in the last 12:05 of the game.

After Northwood (2-7, 0-4) took a 21-14 lead on a 54-yard touchdown run by Andy Meyer, Laguna Beach scored on a nine-yard run by Jason Boyd.

Boyd ran for 136 yards in 20 carries, and scored on a three-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. He also had four receptions for 54 yards.

The Timberwolves were down to their third-string quarterback, Kyle Harper, after injuries last week to starter Dan Tomcheck and backup Dave Anderson.

Northwood’s Meyer picked up 137 yards in 24 carries. Harper completed 10 of 21 passes, including first-half touchdowns of 23 yards to Steve Lucas and 26 yards to Bryan Bentrott.

But the Artists intercepted three of Harper’s final six passes, sealing the victory.

Dan Woods added a one-yard touchdown for Laguna Beach, and Merz capped the scoring for his team with a 27-yard field goal with 1:49 remaining in the game.