ORANGE COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL : Freeway League : Sonora Fumbles Away Good Effort, Loses, 14-6

Despite a sloppy field, Sunny Hills High School managed to defeat Sonora, 14-6, in a Freeway League game Friday in La Habra Stadium.

The score may surprise some because Sunny Hills entered the game 6-0 overall and Sonora was 3-2-1. In fact, there were more than a few people who felt the Raiders, 0-2 in the league, outplayed the Lancers (2-0).

But four lost fumbles, two in Sunny Hills territory, stymied the Sonora attack.

Playing on a rain-worn field, the teams combined for four turnovers, 8 penalties and no points through most of the first half.

With 16 seconds remaining in the half, Sunny Hills quarterback David Chisum rolled out and completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to David Hlebec. Carlos Miramontes’ conversion kick made it 7-0.

The touchdown drive had been a methodical 10-play affair, with the nine-yard touchdown pass accounting for the drive’s longest play.

Chisum ended the game completing 11 of 17 passes for 156 yards.

Sonora came back with a nine-play drive midway through the third quarter that got all the way to the Sunny Hills 20. But Sonora quarterback Billy Robb attempting to complete a pass to Kurt Takahashi in the end zone, was intercepted by Sunny Hills’ Jon Montgomery.

Sonora received the ball back a few minutes later and embarked on yet another long drive, this one for 11 plays and a touchdown when running back Scott Tibbets scored from five yards out.

But running back Chris Schenk was stopped on an attempted two-point conversion run and Sunny Hills maintained a 7-6 lead with 1:04 left in the third quarter.

Sunny Hills started its second touchdown drive midway in the fourth quarter. Montgomery, receiving a punt, had his face mask grabbed and the ensuing penalty gave the Lancers good field position at the Sonora 45.

After a two-yard run, Chisum completed a 13-yard pass to Collins Soloman. A play later, running back Derek Wright broke for a 20-yard run to the Sonora seven-yard line. Soloman scored on a seven-yard run on the next play. Miramontes’ kick made it 14-6 Sunny Hills with 3:56 left.

The fact that Sunny Hills didn’t score more is a tribute to the Sonora defense, especially an undersized defensive tackle named Anthony Zubia.

Zubia, who says he weighs about 175 pounds, made 10 tackles, 6 for losses. Those six tackles, including one sack, accounted for 35 yards in losses for Sunny Hills.

Sonora’s last hope for a tie went down Schenk lost fumble off a pitch out on the Sonora 21 with three minutes to go in the game.

La Habra 21, Troy 6--The Highlanders turned two Warrior first-quarter turnovers into touchdowns en route to victory at Fullerton District Stadium.

La Habra (4-3, 2-0) remained atop the league standings in handing Troy (2-5, 1-1) its first conference setback of the season.

Highlander quarterback Al Razo rushed for 69 yards and passed for 122 yards to account for 191 of his team’s 228 yards in total offense. Razo was 4 of 10 in passing, with touchdowns of 29 and 80 yards. He ran for another score, putting La Habra up, 12-0, in the first quarter.

The Warriors’ only score came with 4:04 remaining in the third period, when reserve fullback Chris Conway ran it in from the 3 after a disputed muffed punt gave Troy possession at that point.

Troy quarterback Sean Scanlon had a tough night, completing 9 of 27 attempts for 64 yards, getting sacked twice and intercepted twice.

Fullerton 25, Buena Park 3--The Indians won their first game of the season in defeating the Coyotes at Spaulding Stadium.

Fullerton, which rushed for 221 yards and held an 18-0 halftime lead, was led by fullback Steve DePhillips, who had 104 yards in 11 carries, and Darrell Corbin, who added 58 yards in 12 carries.

DePhillips, Corbin and quarterback Rene Arias all scored on touchdown runs.

John Bailey intercepted two passes, the second of which he returned 55 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Buena Park’s only score came late in the fourth quarter on a 41-yard field goal by Lonnie Legg.

The victory was the first for Coach Steve Nishimoto. Fullerton is 1-6 overall, 1-1 in league play. Buena Park is 3-4, 0-2.