HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : Moala Lifts Hawthorne Over Bell Gardens, 14-6
Backup running back Tevita Moala scored on two third-quarter touchdown runs to lead Hawthorne High over Bell Gardens, 14-6, for the Southern Section Division III football championship at La Mirada High Friday night.
With starting tailback Corey McCoy sidelined by an ankle injury, Moala stepped in to rush for 181 yards in eight carries, including touchdown runs of 65 and 71 yards.
Both teams had problems moving the ball on the muddy field during the scoreless first half. But on Hawthorne’s first play from scrimmage in the second half, Moala, a 5-foot-11 senior who also started at linebacker, scored on his 65-yard run.
Top-seeded Bell Gardens (12-2), the Almont League champion, scored its only touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a 39-yard touchdown pass play from Ricky Oropeza to Francisco Macias.
It is the first football championship for Hawthorne (12-2) since 1954.
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
