For its Southern Part Division 3 soccer playoff opener on Friday evening towards Laguna Seaside, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame introduced in a “ringer” assistant coach this week to get its operating backs somewhat harder.
Former UCLA coach DeShaun Foster dropped by to supply classes, notably to his sophomore stepson, Noel Washington.
“He helped a lot,” Washington mentioned. “Having him here means a lot. He’s been making us practice a lot harder.”
And what was the impression? Washington had landing runs of 35, two and 32 yards to assist Notre Dame (6-5) come away with a 44-28 victory and advance to a house sport subsequent week towards Chino Hills. He completed with 83 yards in 11 carries.
Security Tahj Skinner of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame is completely satisfied after getting his sixth interception of the season.
(Craig Weston)
Junior quarterback Jack Hurst of Laguna Seaside and West Virginia-bound senior quarterback Wyatt Brown of Notre Dame stored making performs all evening. Hurst accomplished 32 of 51 passes for 417 yards and 4 touchdowns. Brown accomplished 16 of 31 passes for 232 yards and one landing. He ran for 61 yards and one landing.
A very powerful completion for Brown got here with 7:38 left on third and 17 with Notre Dame clinging to a 34-28 lead. He discovered sophomore Emmanuel Pullins for a 19-yard completion. Then Pullins made a 31-yard catch. It arrange a 21-yard discipline purpose by Nico Marliani for a 37-28 lead with 2:22 left.
“Huge,” Notre Dame coach Evan Yabu mentioned of the third-down reception.
“I just saw him one on one with the no safety coverage,” Brown mentioned.
Stated Pullins: “I’m ready for those situations. Before the game, I promised myself to go for the ball.”
It grew to become a wild sport within the second half as a result of Laguna Seaside (9-2) refused to go down and not using a combat. After Andre Gamboa picked up a fumble on a excessive Laguna Seaside snap to attain a landing to start out the third quarter, Notre Dame appeared prepared to tug away with a 28-14 lead.
Hurst responded with a four-yard landing move to Grant Regal. Brown ran 10 yards for a landing and a 34-21 Notre Dame lead. Again got here Hurst, who fired a 40-yard landing move to Otis Boultinghouse.
“We knew it was going to be easy,” Brown mentioned. “They throw a punch, we throw a punch back.”
In defeat, Laguna Seaside made clear it is going to be a crew to reckon with subsequent season. Two freshmen, lineman Luke Bogdan and operating again Charlie Christian, stored making performs like they are going to be future stars. The receiving corp made up principally of juniors stored making catches for Hurst, who completed the season with 45 landing passes. The Breakers had been damage by two fumbles and an interception.
“It was a fun game,” Washington mentioned. “They are tough and play hard.”
A mistake by Brown late within the first half helped Laguna Seaside get again into the sport. Brown had a move intercepted by Will Kimball with 1:01 left on a scramble with Notre Dame main 21-7. Hurst drove the crew down to attain on a four-yard landing reception by Kimball with 4 seconds left to make it 21-14 at halftime.
Two landing runs by Washington and a 25-yard landing reception by Luc Weaver accounted for the Knights’ first-half scores.
Tahj Skinner of Notre Dame picked up his sixth interception of the season. Notre Dame misplaced its standout nostril deal with, Chris Colon, for subsequent week’s sport after being ejected for 2 15-yard private foul penalties.
6-5, 305-pound Samson Fatu at peace together with his head telephones on taking a nap on the Notre Dame Excessive 50-yard line. It’s like a enterprise class seat. pic.twitter.com/wJn9zHM51Z
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) November 8, 2025
