Posted on 02 November 2013 by La Habra Journal
La Habra running back Carlos Martin finds room to run with Sonora’s Christian Dimas in pursuit during the first quarter of La Habra’s 56-13 win, Friday night.
by Jeremiah Girard
La Habra Journal
The La Habra football team proved too much for the Sonora Raiders to handle en route to a 56-13 victory in the city championship game, Friday at La Habra High.
La Habra did most of its scoring in the first half, which allowed Head Coach Frank Mazzotta to send in reserves for the majority of the second half.
The Raiders went three-and-out on their first drive, and the ensuing punt was returned by Devon Drake to the Sonora 15-yard line. On the Highlanders’ first play from scrimmage, Carlos Martin scored on a 15-yard run, to put La Habra up 7-0.
They never looked back from there.
“I thought we played pretty well tonight,” Mazzotta said. “We put the pressure on them early, and controlled most of the game.”
The Highlanders went into the half with a 35-0 lead, and their offense was anchored by a balanced attack.
Sophomore quarterback Eric Barriere threw for two touchdowns in the first half. One of them on a 16-yard pass to Christian Casas, and the other on a 39-yard strike to Darrell Cloy,
“Eric had a heck of a game today,” said Cloy, the senior tight end. “He made it easy for us receivers tonight.”
Cloy, an Arizona commit, finished the game with 76 yards receiving.
Sebastian Salinas added a rushing touchdown to give the Highlanders two rushing and two receiving touchdowns in the first half. The fifth touchdown of the half came on a 25-yard interception return by Alex Bush.
“I really liked the way we played on both sides of the ball,” Bush said. “Our defense played good. It was cool for me to get a touchdown too. That was my first varsity score.”
Barriere sat most of the second half, but did have time to add a rushing touchdown early in the third quarter. He threw for 140 yards and two scores in the first half.
Sonora’s Jacob Fimbres collects tough rushing yards while being dragged down by La Habra’s Jake Colocion and Devon Drake during La Habra’s 56-13 win, Friday night.
Ryan Washington came in to relieve Barriere early in the third quarter and added a passing touchdown of his own to give his team a 49-0 lead.
The Raiders did manage to rattle off two unanswered scores. One on a 15-yard pass from Cole McDonald to Jacob Fimbres, and one on a 40-yard run by McDonald.
McDonald finished with 140 yards passing, one touchdown and two interceptions.
EJ Ocampo added a 77-yard rushing touchdown late for the Highlanders and finished off the scoring. He had a game-high 115 rushing yards in limited action.
The Raiders will have one final chance at a Freeway League victory, next week, against Sunny Hills. The Lancers are also winless in league play.
“That game is very important for us,” said Sonora head coach Paul Chiotti. “I really want to send this great group of seniors out with a win.”
The Highlanders will also be looking for a win, but for different reasons. They will host Buena Park next week, and the winner will clinch the Freeway League title. A win for La Habra would mean their seventh straight league title and would increase their league winning streak to 36 games.
Buena Park is also undefeated, and will be lead by one of the best running backs in the county, Deven Boston.
“He is a great runner,” said Bush. “But we are a great defense and should be able to stop him. We will stop him.”
