PREP FOOTBALL : Freeway League : Fullerton Gives La Habra the Blues

The Fullerton High School football team wore blue wristbands into the Freeway League game against defending champion La Habra to remind themselves as Indian Coach Martin Luczai put it “of the three years that La Habra has owned us.”

They shed the wristbands with utter delight.

The Indians had not beaten La Habra, whose school color is blue, since a 7-6 victory in 1982. Friday night at La Habra High School, they did it again, using consistent offense and defense to beat the less-than-reliable Highlanders, 7-6.

The victory moves Fullerton (2-0, 6-1) into a first place tie with Sunny Hills.

Luczai has been cultivating the attitude that his team is the most underrated, undiscovered and unappreciated tourist attraction in the north county, and the 1,600 fans might agree.

“This was a great win,” he said. “Maybe it will get the kids some recognition.

La Habra’s offense and special teams wound up unintentionally cooperating in the Indians’ quest for recognition.

The Highlanders fumbled twice, gave up an interception and--ultimately, the most costly mistake--fumbled a punt return which was recovered by Fullerton at the Highlander 1-yard line.

That pivotal turn of events came 23 seconds into the second quarter as La Habra’s Jaime Delgadillo couldn’t get a grip on the punt by Collin Milligan and Indian Dave Mandel pounced on it just a step out of the end zone.

Fullerton quarterback Aaron Acton dove over the line for the touchdown and John Gilyard’s kick would eventually stand as the winning margin.

The Highlanders (1-1, 3-3) immediately fought back with a 57-yard line, but an interception of a John Robertson pass by Wesley Dodds put an end to that.

They tried again on their next series, only to miss a 32-yard field goal by Jim Dean.

The Indians only error, an Acton pass intercepted by Delgadillo at the Highlander 34, set up La Habra’s only scoring with 5:54 in the third quarter. A 66-yard drive culminating with a 17-yard touchdown run by Kevin Capps, the self-described 5-foot-7 “Mighty Mite” who gained 109 yards on 8 carries.

“The only reason they won was that we gave it to them,” said an embittered Robertson, who, despite reading the plays off a piece of paper taped to his forearm, did a creditable job substituting for the injured Matt Shackleford, one of the county’s better quarterbacks.

Sunny Hills 38, Buena Park 0--david Chisum threw for two touchdown passes to Tim Imperiali and fullback Bryan Edmonds scored tow short touchdowns in the first half as the undefeated Lancers beat the Coyotes at Spaulding Stadium in Buena Park.

After placekicker Carlos Miramontes’ 24-yard field goal with just under 6:00 left in the first quarter, Sunny Hills scored touchdowns on its next four possessions.

Edmonds led off the barrage with one-yard run. Three plays into the second quarter following a fumble recovery by Marc Payan, Chisum found Imperiali for 13-yard scoring strike.

Edmonds took advantage of another fumble recovery by Payan with 6:03 remaining in the first half, as he scored his second touchdown from three yards out.

In the closing seconds of the first half, Chisum connected twice with Imperiali, ending with a 10-yard touchdown loss to make 31-0 at the half.

Using reserves throughout the second half, the Lancers scored on a one yard run by Trevor Painton with ‘:00 left in the game.

Chisum, playing only the first half, completed 8 of 14 for 119 yards. Imperiali was the game’s leading receiver with five catches for 80 yards.

Sunny Hills’ defense held the Coyotes to 64 yards on offense, evenly divided between rushing and passing. Buena Park, in being shut out for the first time this year, committed five turnovers.

Sunny Hills is 2-0, 7-0. Buena Park goes to 0-2, 0-6-1.

Troy 36, Sonora 13--After falling behind 13-7, the Warriors (1-1, 6-1) scored 29 consecutive points to defeat the Raiders in Fullerton District Stadium.

Quarterback Mike Pawlawski passed for two touchdowns and ran for another to aid the comeback.

His first was a 15-yarder to Karl Hess. The pair also connected for 14 yards in the third quarter.

Kicker Todd Murdock kicked two 26-yard field goals.

The Raiders are 0-2 and 0-7.