Sunny Hills Easily Defeats Team From Canada

The Sunny Hills High Lancers were gracious hosts for a half, then turned on the heat and defeated the Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds, 42-6, Friday afternoon at Buena Park High.

Ross Sheppard, from Edmonton, Canada, hosted the Lancers last year and Sunny Hills won that game, 34-9. This time, the visitors had more trouble adjusting to the U.S. rules.

The Lancers outgained Sheppard, 219-51, but managed only 46 net yards in the opening half. Despite its slow start, Sunny Hills led, 14-6, at the half. The Lancers blocked two punts on the Thunderbirds’ opening possession, recovering the second at the Sheppard 11. Two plays later, Bryce Pippert scored from eight yards out for a 7-0 lead.

The Lancers added to the margin midway through the second quarter, pinning the Thunderbirds deep in their territory after a punt and recovering a fumble at the Sheppard 5. Henry Naliielua pranced into the end zone on the next play and the Lancers led, 14-0. Sheppard scored on the last play of the half, when Chris O’Mara hooked up with Shelly Williams on a 13-yard scoring pass.

Sunny Hills added four touchdowns in the second half, but the Lancers’ longest scoring drive covered only 46 yards. A third blocked punt, along with two other short punts and an interception by Jeff Scott kept the Lancers in good field position the entire game.