SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL GAMES : Division IV : Los Altos Shuts Down El Rancho, 12-0

Over the years, Hacienda Heights Los Altos High School has developed a winning reputation behind its offense, but it was defense that played the biggest role as the Conquerors won the Southern Section Division IV championship Saturday night.

Limiting Pico Rivera El Rancho to 116 total yards, the Conquerors scored a 12-0 victory before 10,165 fans at Mt. San Antonio College.

It was the Conquerors’ second title in 3 years, as well as the seventh in 22 seasons for Coach Dwayne DeSpain. That also tied DeSpain with former Temple City Coach Bob Hitchcock for the most Southern Section titles.

Los Altos, competing in the final for the third straight season, finished with a 13-1 record.

El Rancho (11-2), competing in its first title game since 1968, looked nervous at the outset as Lorenzo Camarena fumbled the opening kickoff at the Don 24, where Los Altos recovered.

That set up a Los Altos score, which came on Todd Sanders’ 38-yard field with 10:50 remaining in the first quarter.

“That’s a great defense (El Rancho) we were up against,” DeSpain said. “We didn’t know if we could score against them but we got a break early and we just played with great intensity all night.”

After stopping El Rancho on fourth down at the Los Altos 38 on the next series, the Conquerors drove 62 yards for the game’s only touchdown.

The score came on a 6-yard pass from quarterback Mike Allen to running back Roger Boden for a 9-0 lead with 3:52 remaining in the first quarter. The extra-point kick was blocked.

The game’s only other points came on a 32-yard field goal by Courtney Smith for a 12-0 lead late in the third quarter.

After that, the Los Altos defense took over, replusing two El Rancho scoring threats in the fourth quarter.

First, defensive back Paul Garcia intercepted a Pippo Salvia pass early in the quarter, and then John Kim recovered a fumble on El Rancho’s next possession.

Los Altos had difficulty against El Rancho’s defense. But the Conquerors held a 157-116 edge in total yards.

Leading the way was Boden, who rushed for 87 yards in 19 carries and Allen, who completed 10 of 19 passes for 83 yards.

El Rancho was held to 19 yards passing and made three turnovers in the game.

DeSpain said that Los Altos’s loss to Northview in the Eastern Conference title game last season may have served as a motivator. “There was just great desire on the part of our kids,” he said. “They just wouldn’t be denied. I think losing last year played a big part for us.”