La Quinta Rallies From 3-0 Deficit at Half to Win, 22-3

Heavily favored La Quinta High School presented Sonora every opportunity for an upset Thursday night, but the Raiders refused the charity.

La Quinta recovered from a poor first half, in large part because Sonora had a horrendous second half, to score a 22-3 nonleague win before 300 in La Habra Stadium.

Turnovers, La Quinta’s idea of the gift that keeps on giving, plagued the Aztecs (3-1) on their first four possessions. But all Sonora (1-3) parlayed out fumbles by Darrel Crain and Bart Recktenwald and two interceptions on trick plays was a 27-yard field goal by Jay Johnson in the first quarter.

La Quinta had to feel fortunate it went into the locker room at the end of the lackluster first half behind only 3-0.

In the second half, it was Sonora’s turn to try to give the game away--and the Raiders succeeded.

Sonora quarterback Ron Lesperance’s first of two fumbles set up what turned out to be the winning touchdown. Jim Lyons recovered at the Raider 37, and nine plays and two key Sonora off-side penalties later, Crain scored on a one-yard run and La Quinta led, 7-3, with 6:06 left in the quarter.

A 50-yard punt by La Quinta’s Derek Debbs gave Sonora the ball at its 3-yard line with 8:40 left in the game. On the next play, Rick Wilson tackled Raider running back Eric Johnson in the end zone for a safety and La Quinta had a 9-3 lead.

La Quinta took over at its 43 following Sonora’s free kick, and Recktenwald broke loose on the next play for a 57-yard touchdown run. The extra point try failed and it was 15-3.

Lesperance fumbled again on the first play of Sonora’s ensuing possession and Mike Carlevato recovered at the Raider 33. On the next play, Alan Stevenson scored, and after Scott Armstrong’s extra point, La Quinta led, 22-3.

Besides all the turnovers, the game was also marred by penalties. The officials threw their flags 22 times. Sonora was cited 11 times for 110 yards, and La Quinta 11 times for 95.

“I was beginning to wonder if the officials had pockets in their pants,” said Gordon Blakeley, Sonora coach. “It was really ridiculous how many penalties they called.”

Recktenwald led all rushers with 102 yards on 14 carries, and Steve Stamper had 66 yards on 15 carries for Sonora before leaving the game in the third quarter with a bruised knee.