By Fernando Mancilla
Lake Forest, CA — The El Toro Chargers lit up the scoreboard Friday night, delivering a statement 56-14 win over the visiting Trabuco Hills Mustangs in a non-league clash that left home fans buzzing.
The night began with Trabuco Hills striking first. The Mustangs marched downfield and punched in an early touchdown to grab a 7-0 lead. But that moment of momentum would be short-lived. El Toro answered quickly with a 13-yard rushing touchdown, knotting the score at 7-7 midway through the first quarter. From there, the Chargers never looked back.
Quarterback Wyatt Nucci helped fuel the surge, breaking off a 25-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter to push El Toro ahead 14-7. Quarterback play then took center stage, as Matthew Arroyo hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, extending the lead to 21-7. El Toro’s defense joined the onslaught with a fumble recovery inside the red zone, setting up another quick rushing touchdown.
By halftime, El Toro had poured on 42 unanswered points, including a Huge El Toro interception and return that set up yet another score. The Chargers’ combination of explosive plays, defensive takeaways, and efficient red zone execution left Trabuco Hills searching for answers.
The dominance carried into the second half. Nucci struck again with a 30-yard rushing touchdown, and Arroyo continued his big night with an 8-yard touchdown grab to make it 56-7 late in the third quarter. Kicker Gianluca D’Amato remained perfect on extra points, consistently adding to the tally after every touchdown.
Trabuco Hills finally broke through late in the fourth quarter when Gavin Mullhall powered in a 26-yard rushing touchdown, but the game was long out of reach. The Mustangs, who came in at 2-0, had no answers for El Toro’s fast-paced offense and opportunistic defense.
For the Chargers, the victory represents more than just a bounce back — it’s a sign of a team finding its stride early in the season. The offense showcased balance between the run and pass, while the defense created multiple turnovers that directly led to points.
El Toro (2-1) will now prepare for a tough road trip to Nevada to face the Foothill Falcons (3-1) on Friday, September 19. Foothill is coming off a decisive 37-7 win over Legacy (North Las Vegas, NV), setting the stage for a competitive matchup.
Trabuco Hills (2-1) will look to regroup as they travel to take on the Brea Olinda Wildcats (3-1), who are riding high after a 38-0 win over Jurupa Hills.
Friday’s performance was a reminder of the Chargers’ offensive firepower and defensive grit — and if they can replicate it on the road, El Toro may quickly become one of the Southern Section’s most dangerous teams to watch this fall.
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