Sunny Hills’ Dazzling Plays Shut Down La Habra

In an otherwise blase game, Sunny Hills came up with three electrifying plays to wake up the crowd and beat La Habra, 23-0, in a Freeway League game Friday night at Buena Park High.

The victory clinched a playoff spot for the Lancers (5-4, 3-1 in league), the defending Southern Section Division VI champions. La Habra dropped to 3-5-1 and 1-3, and into the ranks of the also-ran.

Though short on excitement for the most part, Sunny Hills Coach Tim Devaney looked at the game from a pragmatic standpoint, leaving the artistic impression for others to judge.

“You’ve got to be pleased,” Devaney said. “A win is a win, especially this time of the year.”

Sunny Hills got all the points it would have needed just before the half on a 30-yard field goal by Brent Howes, but added a few more for insurance in the second half.

The Lancers’ first touchdown was set up by an Erren O’Leary interception of a pass by La Habra quarterback Grant Mitchell midway through the third quarter.

O’Leary picked off the pass at the Sunny Hills 45-yard line and returned it to the La Habra one-yard line, where defensive back Matt Moreno caught him from behind. Sunny Hills running back Marlon Womack scored on the next play for his first touchdown of the night.

O’Leary, who also plays tight end, was involved in Sunny Hills’ next score when he combined with quarterback Steve Mellano on a 51-yard pass play with 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Womack, who led all rushers with 137 yards in 17 carries, capped the scoring with a 61-yard run along the right sideline with 2 1/2 minutes to play.

La Habra never got closer to the end zone than the Sunny Hills’ 38-yard line, despite 183 passing yards by Mitchell.

Sunny Hills played without defensive backs Steve Ashton, who suffered a shoulder injury during pre-game drills, and Bobby Sunderland, who broke a wrist in last week’s game against Troy.

“Considering we are patchworking things, we did a good job on defense,” Devaney said.