Johnson Held in Check, La Habra Still Wins

FULLERTON — When it comes to the La Habra High School football program, most of the attention goes to senior running back Jason Johnson.

But Friday it was the Highlanders’ defense that deserved the raves in a 16-0 victory over Fullerton in a Freeway League game at Fullerton District Stadium.

La Habra (3-3-1, 1-1) held Fullerton to 126 yards in total offense and forced four turnovers.

An interception by Aaron Montes set up La Habra’s first touchdown after he returned it 31 yards to the Fullerton 14.

Johnson went in six plays later as he burst five yards up the middle with 6:52 left in the first quarter. The extra-point attempt failed and La Habra led, 6-0.

Johnson entered the game as the fifth-leading rusher in Orange County, with 678 yards--including a 233-yard effort last Friday in a 21-20 loss to Troy.

He was limited to just 57 yards in 20 carries against Fullerton (1-5-1, 0-2).

La Habra added a 27-yard field goal by Mike Mooney with 11 seconds left in the third quarter to take a 9-0 lead. The final score came when quarterback Grant Mitchell completed a fourth-down, 14-yard scoring pass to Gilbert Gorbea with 6:45 left in the game.