SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : DIVISION VII : Webber Leads Laguna Hills to 31-17 Victory

MISSION VIEJO —  Laguna Hills’ bruising defense and the punishing running of David Webber to stifle visiting Temple City, 31-17, in a Division VII quarterfinal game at Mission Viejo High School Friday night.

Laguna Hills (8-3-1) will meet Santa Maria Righetti in the semifinals.

While Laguna Hills’ defense shut down Temple City’s wing-T, holding the Rams to 65 yards in 36 carries, Webber took care of the offense. Webber, who at 5 feet 10 and 195 pounds was bigger than all but one of Temple City’s down linemen, ran for 172 yards and three touchdowns in 26 carries.

Despite controlling the game from the outset, Laguna Hills needed a 15-yard touchdown run by quarterback Justin Vedder in the closing minutes to clinch the victory. Temple City (8-4) had pulled to within 23-17 on a 10-yard pass from Eric Britton to Anthony Aemmer and Britton’s pass to Javier Ortiz for the two-point conversion with 8 minutes 42 seconds remaining in the game.

But Laguna Hills’ defense and Vedder’s touchdown run put Temple City away.

Laguna Hills dominated the first half, holding Temple City to just seven yards in 16 carries. Laguna Hills led, 10-0, early in the third quarter on a nine-yard touchdown run by Webber and a 31-yard field goal by Devon Higgins.