Buena Park Defense Makes a Stand as La Habra Falls
The first half of Friday night’s game at La Habra High School was a see-saw battle. But two key defensive stands midway through the second half allowed Buena Park to defeat La Habra, 49-37, in Freeway League play.
After a 55-yard touchdown run by Buena Park’s Tim Jones tied the score, 28-28, on the opening play of the second half, the Highlanders (3-5, 2-2) drove to the Coyote 10-yard line. But Buena Park’s defense held, forcing La Habra’s Will McIntosh to kick a 28-yard field goal.
The Coyotes (2-7, 2-2) scored on the first play of their next possession when Jamal Allen caught a 61-yard yard pass from George McDonald to give Buena Park a 35-31 lead with 6 minutes 1 second left in the third quarter.
La Habra threatened to retake the lead on its next possession, but quarterback Sonje Berg’s pass was intercepted by Hung Thai on the Coyote 18-yard line with 11:23 left in the game.
The Coyotes scored three plays later on a two-yard run by Greg Cabral.
La Habra scored again on a 59-yard touchdown pass to Donny Cisneros from Berg, but a 43-yard touchdown run by David Barrios gave the Coyotes a 49-37 lead.
La Habra’s top performer was Johnny Yoo, who rushed 23 times for 274 yards.