La Habra’s Effort Falls Just Short : Defending Champion Los Altos Registers Tough 24-13 Victory

After watching his team lose to Los Altos High School, the Division IV defending champion and No. 1-ranked team, 24-13, Friday night, La Habra Coach Jack Nichols wiped the tears from his eyes, huddled with his players and with all the volume his lungs could offer, let his feelings be known.

“Any other team would have quit! You didn’t quit!” he shouted. “You almost won the football game. They’re the No.1-ranked team in the state. You can beat anybody.”

Yes, emotions ran high at Los Altos, where an estimated 2,500 fans watched La Habra (2-1) put up a valiant fight.

Although the Highlanders trailed 14-0 at halftime and 21-0 early in the third quarter, they never gave up.

“These kids showed great, great character out there,” he said, bear-hugging running back Mark Brown in midsentence. “They just would not give up. They haven’t been behind all year, but tonight they came out after being down at the half and gave it their all.”

Although La Habra quarterback Mark Moreno completed only four of 15 passes for 58 yards and was intercepted twice, he showed great promise midway through the third quarter with two consecutive touchdown passes.

Brown connected with Moreno on a screen pass and then raced down the sideline for the Highlanders’ first touchdown.

Then, on La Habra’s next possession, Moreno hit junior Mike Miller in the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown pass. La Habra’s extra point attempt fell short, and Los Altos led 21-13.

But Los Altos, relying on the talented tandem of running backs Roger Boden (144 yards in 17 carries and a touchdown) and Fernando Zambrano (76 yards in 12 carries and a touchdown), finished off its next drive with a 32-yard field goal by Cortney Smith for its final 24-13 lead.

“It was a hard-hitting game, we got a couple breaks in the beginning,” said Los Altos’ 23-year coach Dwayne DeSpain, who earned his 190th victory.

“But when we jumped out 21-0 and thought we got them on the run, the kids just got lazy on us. I got to give coach Nichols credit--you gotta praise La Habra.”

Brown, younger brother of former Servite star Derek Brown, was slow warming up but finished with 106 yards in 12 carries, including a 58-yard sprint down the sideline to set up the Highlanders’ first score and a 36-yard run to set up their second.