Posted on 18 October 2013 by La Habra Journal
by Nathan Percy
La Habra Journal
BUENA PARK – The La Habra football team flexed its muscle in all facets, defeating Sunny Hills 55-0 in a Freeway league game, Friday night at Buena Park High.
La Habra scored on all six of its first half possessions, as the offensive line won the battle of the trenches, freeing up running backs Sebastian Salinas and Carlos Martin for three combined touchdowns.
Quarterback Eric Barriere completed six-of-13 passes in the first half, but threw two long touchdowns and scrambled for a 10-yard score.
The Highlanders led 41-0 at halftime.
“Our kids played hard tonight, we talk about it every week,” said Frank Mazzotta, La Habra head coach. “We have to play hard regardless of the opponent. When teams get to that point where they’re playing hard because that’s they’re style, then you know you have a chance to do something special.”
Defensively, La Habra controlled the line of scrimmage against the Lancers’ wing-style rushing attack.
Sunny Hills (3-4, 0-2) managed 43 yards of offense in the first half.
La Habra(6-1,2-0) also had a number of plays called back due to penalties, including two long punt returns by Devon Drake and a 58-yard touchdown run by Elijah Carter.
Drake also intercepted a pass in the first quarter.
Martin opened up the scoring with a two-yard run, completing an 8-play, 65-yard drive after forcing a three-and-out on Sunny Hills’ first possession.
Late in the first quarter, the Lancers put pressure on Barriere in the backfield, but as they spun him to the ground, he tossed the ball back to Martin, who turned the play into a 20-yard gain.
On the next play, Barriere again escaped pressure, stepping up in the pocket to hit Christian Casas for a 57-yard touchdown up the right sideline.
Salinas added two touchdown runs of two and 12 yards in the second quarter.
The defense held Sunny Hills to four first downs in the first half, two of which came by way of defensive penalties charged to the Highlanders.
“We have a pretty good defense,” Mazzotta said. “John [Caffrey, Sunny Hills head coach] is a little undermanned compared to us, but I like the way he gets his kids to play tough. Our kids did their job, that’s all we could ask.”
With a running clock in the second half, La Habra added a 15-yard touchdown run by Zach Stack in the third quarter and a five-yard touchdown run by Jake Colocion in the fourth quarter.
Barriere threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Casas caught three passes for 124 yards.
Tight end Darrell Cloy caught Barriere’s other touchdown pass, an 18-yard strike in the second quarter.
Salinas finished with 73 first-half yards.
For Sunny Hills, Patrick Murano’s 46-yard run in the fourth quarter was the lone big play, offensively. He finished with 67 yards rushing on 12 carries.
La Habra takes this performance into an important league matchup with Troy next Friday at La Habra High.
The game also serves as Homecoming night for the Highlanders.
“I’m excited, the kids are excited and hopefully [Troy is] undefeated,” Mazzotta said. “We’re looking to take care of business.”
