Laguna Beach Holds the Line for First League Victory Since ’89

NEWPORT BEACH — Laguna Beach’s defense prevented 260-pound Mark Palkoner from going a yard and a half and, as a result, won its first Pacific Coast League game since 1989, defeating Estancia, 28-27, at Newport Harbor High School Thursday night.

The victory ended a 17-game league losing streak for the Artists (2-5, 1-1), whose last league victory came against Costa Mesa in 1989.

Laguna Beach, after taking the lead 28-21 on a five-yard pass from Pat Wood to Nate Pivaroff early in the fourth quarter, fumbled at the Estancia 39 with 3:39 left to play. Estancia (1-6, 0-2) quickly moved down to the Laguna Beach 15 and scored when Mike Gomez hit Jairo Arceyut with a 15-yard touchdown pass.

Estancia’s two-point conversion attempt failed, but Laguna Beach was penalized for pass interference, putting the ball 1 1/2 yards from the end zone.

“We brought our big guy in to try to get the ball across and the 260-pounder didn’t move an inch,” Estancia Coach John Liebengood said.

Said Laguna Beach Coach Mike Roche: “I saw him come in and when I saw his feet stop moving I said, ‘Thank God.’ ”

The conversion play probably wouldn’t have meant a thing if it weren’t for Wood and Scott Kimball.

Wood, Laguna Beach’s senior quarterback, completed 14 of 19 passes, including his last 10 in a row, for 201 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a touchdown when, returning kickoffs for the first time this season, returned the first one he touched 98 yards for the Artists’ first score.

Kimball was the beneficiary of Wood’s hot hand, hauling in 10 passes for 134 yards and one touchdown.