PREP FOOTBALL : Freeway League : La Habra Close to Title Despite Tying Fullerton

La Habra High School took a big step toward its fifth Freeway League title in the past 6 years despite being held to a 7-7 tie by Fullerton Friday night in front of 1,500 fans at La Habra.

In a game dominated by defense, La Habra remained unbeaten in the six-team league and needs only a win against Buena Park next week to win the championship. Buena Park hasn’t won a league game since 1983.

“A tie is never fun, but it doesn’t hurt us,” said Jack Nicholls, La Habra coach. “It doesn’t hurt us as much as it hurt them. They had to win.”

La Habra (5-3-1, 3-0-1) remained atop the league standings while Fullerton (4-4-1, 2-1-1) slipped to third place behind Sunny Hills. Afterward, Steve Nishimoto, Fullerton coach, conceded the league title to La Habra.

“I think they’ll beat Buena Park and win the title,” he said. “We got off to a great start, and then our offense never got into sync. We couldn’t make a first down to save our lives.”

Fullerton stunned La Habra with an option pass for a touchdown in the first quarter. Fullback Steve DePhillips took a pitch from quarterback Rene Arias and then turned and threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Bailey.

The touchdown reception was Bailey’s third in his last 2 games and was the Indians’ biggest play of the first half. Fullerton managed only 2 first downs in the second half and gained only 6 yards in total offense.

“We worked all week on defending the gadget play and then they burned us for a touchdown,” Nicholls said.

La Habra also had problems getting its offense untracked with quarterback Al Razo misfiring on several passes. Razo completed 6 of 19 attempts for 92 yards.

La Habra’s top running back, Mark Brown, was unable to penetrate Fullerton’s defensive line. Brown gained only 12 yards in 10 carries but scored the Highlanders’ touchdown.

“Fullerton did a great job of pursuing and shutting down our outside running game,” Nicholls said.

But La Habra was successful on two big fourth-down plays en route to an 80-yard touchdown drive that tied the score, 7-7, in the second quarter.

First, fullback Jamie Hutcherson picked up 4 yards to give the Highlanders a first down at the Fullerton 36-yard line. Then, tailback Jeff Besinaiz earned La Habra first and goal at the 1-yard line with a 5-yard run. On the next play, Brown dived over for a touchdown.

La Habra failed to capitalize on its best scoring opportunity of the second half. Linebacker George Felix blocked Bailey’s punt and it was recovered by teammate Roy Seabrook at Fullerton’s 19-yard line.

But Fullerton forced La Habra back to the 26 from where David Karaba’s 43-yard field goal attempt with 4:18 remaining fell short.

La Habra had one more opportunity to break the tie with 24 seconds remaining when it held Fullerton at the Indians’ 26-yard line. But with no timeouts remaining, La Habra managed to gain only 2 yards and never got its field goal kicking unit on the field for a final attempt.