Sonora Coach Starts on Right Foot

Sonora High School won its first game for new Coach Terry Cox, defeating Canyon, 16-8, Friday night in La Habra Stadium.

Sonora quarterback Ryan Lewis scored two touchdowns in the season opener and the Raiders held off a fourth quarter charge by the Comanches.

Canyon fumbled the ball nine times and lost five, while being intercepted twice. Darin Bratt picked off a Darren Lish pass with eight seconds left to preserve the Sonora victory.

“It was good to have the first game as a victory,” said Cox, who comes to Sonora after five years at San Gabriel High School. “It looked like we were going to give the game away in the final minutes, but our kids also found a way to win.”

Lewis scored on two one-yard runs, one in the waning seconds of the first quarter and another with 11:06 remaining in the game.

Canyon’s only touchdown was a 66-yard pass from Lish to Tom Bottiaux with 6:35 left to play.

Despite committing seven turnovers, Canyon outgained Sonora in total offense, 234-138. The leading rusher was Canyon’s Jeff Brunswig with 84 yards in 18 carries.