On Saturday, October 17th the Laguna Blanca Owls escaped an upset bid by the the Orcutt Academy Spartans 38-32 in their homecoming game. The Spartan’s quarterback Darin Miller started off the game with a 50-yard rushing touchdown on Orcutt’s first drive. The Owls retaliated with a 65-yard rushing touchdown of their own on a wide receiver fly sweep by Philip Fauntleroy. The previously impenetrable Owls defense showed weakness in the first quarter as the Spartans commanded an 18-6 lead after 12 minutes. The Owls finally started to get it going in the second quarter and turned the 18-6 lead to a 24-32 deficit at halftime thanks to touchdowns from Ben Rios, Chandler Aubery, and Pierce O’Donnell.

Everyone in attendance saw a different Laguna Blanca Owls in the second half. They drove from their own 15-yard line, and Chandler Aubery hit Pierce O’Donnell on a fade route for O’Donnell’s second touchdown of the day. John Puzder rushed in the two point conversion to tie up the game. Orcutt receivedthe ball, but the Spartans were stopped early in the drive and forced to punt. The Owls took as much time as possible on their next drive and topped it off with the eventual game-winning one-yard rushing touchdown by Robert Estrada behind an inspired offensive line to take a 38-32 win. The Owls kicked off to Orcutt, and two plays later the Owls intercepted Miller to seal the deal as Ben Rios deflected the pass into the waiting hands of Christian Fowler. This come-from-behind win was very meaningful to every single player including Pierce O’Donnell, the captain of the Owls,

“The game just came down to heart and who wanted it more, and I knew my boys wanted it more,” he said. The Owls now have to prepare for another first—a win against Thacher—a feat that has eluded the Laguna in its program’s 15-year history. The game is in Ojai at Thacher at 3:30. The Toads are 3-3 and the Owls are 6-0, but are still coming in as the underdogs. “We have a lot to prove: in this league, in this division, and in this city. We were hungry for Orcutt, but we are starving for Cate and Thacher.” Laguna Blanca School | Facebook