HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

St. Paul 31, Hawthorne 0--St. Paul fullback Anthony Morales scored two touchdowns and rushed for 53 yards in seven carries to lead the Swordsmen (8-3-2) to a Southern Section Division III semifinal victory at Cerritos College.

St. Paul will play Anaheim Esperanza (13-0) for the title next Saturday. The Swordsmen will take an unbeaten streak of nine games into the championship.

St. Paul held Hawthorne (10-3) to two first downs, both on penalties, and three yards total offense in the first half en route to a 14-0 lead.

Morrell Ollis, Hawthorne’s 1,000-yard rusher, netted minus-five yards on three first-half carries and finished with four yards in six carries.

After a scoreless first quarter, Morales scored on a one-yard run on the initial play of the second quarter to give St. Paul a 7-0 lead. Morales’ touchdown culminated a 13-play, 59-yard drive.

St. Paul quarterback Albert Borunda passed for 111 yards, completing eight of 13 passes.