SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS: DIVISION VI : Saddleback Turns Errors Into Scores, Upsets La Habra

Saddleback High School converted 3 La Habra turnovers into points Friday as the Roadrunners scored a 17-7 upset win in a first-round Southern Section Division VI playoff game at La Habra.

Saddleback (4-6-1), which led, 7-0, at halftime, took advantage of 2 La Habra (6-4-1) turnovers in the third quarter to extend its lead to 17-0.

“You can’t make that many turnovers against a team like Saddleback and expect to win,” said Jack Nicholls, La Habra coach. Saddleback recovered 3 Highlander fumbles and intercepted 2 Albert Razo passes.

Saddleback scored the first half’s only points on a 13-yard Jeff Blanco touchdown pass to Juan Acuna. The score came 3 plays after the Roadrunners’ Miguel Nava recovered a fumble by La Habra’s Jason Kleeger on the opening kickoff at the Highlander 12.

With 5 minutes left in the third quarter, Saddleback upped its lead to 14-0 when Dave Morris returned an intercepted Razo pass 25 yards for a touchdown.

Three plays after the ensuing kickoff, Saddleback got another scoring chance when Ronnie Ramirez recovered a Razo fumble at the Highlander 36. Seven plays later Beto Zavala kicked a 31-yard field goal with 2 minutes left in the third period to extend Saddleback’s lead to 17-0.

The Highlanders, who outgained the Roadrunners in total offense, 182-112, got their only score with 3:33 left in the game on a 1-yard touchdown run by Mark Brown.