SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Nordhoff Regains League Title, 41-0

Running back Josh Hawkins and a merciless defense helped Nordhoff High win the Frontier League championship as the Rangers defeated Santa Paula, 41-0, on Thursday at Santa Paula High.

Hawkins rushed for 163 yards in 15 carries, including touchdown runs of 53 and nine yards. Running back Dallan Rigby also scored on runs of 10 and three yards.

The victory lifted Nordhoff, Frontier champion in 1991 and ‘92, to its third title in four seasons. The Rangers (7-3, 4-0 in league play) defeated defending champion Moorpark, 36-27, six days ago.

Ranger quarterback Mike Gardia kept the Cardinals (1-9, 0-4) guessing by completing four passes for 90 yards. He threw a 30-yard touchdown strike to Tony Henney late in the second quarter. Henney, a senior, has two receptions--both for touchdowns--in the past two games.

Nordhoff limited Santa Paula running back Jeremy Johnson to 11 yards in eight carries.

Santa Paula quarterback Ryan Cavender threw three interceptions, resulting in 103 return yards. Linebacker Russell Farrar returned an interception 94 yards in the fourth quarter. On the next play, Farrar, who was chased down at the three, plunged into the end zone.

Hawkins, a senior, entered the game as the area Southern Section rushing leader with 1,459 yards.

FRIDAY’S YARDSTICK

A graphic listing top performers for Thursday’s and Friday’s high school football games will appear in Saturday’s editions.