ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREP EXTRA : La Habra Can’t Handle Whittier Rushing Attack

Whittier High’s Edward Alfonso, Julian Hernandez and Art Mendoza ran all over La Habra’s defense on the way to a 31-14 victory Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

The trio combined for 221 of Whittier’s 301 rushing yards.

Alphonso had 77 yards, Hernandez ran for 75 and Mendoza added 69.

Alphonso gave Whittier a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 22-yard run.

Whittier increased the lead to 13-0 when Cardinal quarterback Francisco Garcia scored on a four-yard run.

La Habra cut Whittier’s lead to 13-7 with 40 seconds left in the first quarter on quarterback John Marshall’s one-yard run.

Marshall completed 10 of 27 passes for 165 yards. Nick Metro caught five passed for 119 yards.

Whittier took a 19-7 lead when Garcia hit Mike Longo with a nine-yard pass.

La Habra cut the lead to 19-14 on its first possession of the third quarter on a 13-yard run by Tom Whiter.

Whittier’s Isaac Medrano put the game away with an eight-yard run with 9:58 left in the fourth quarter for a 25-14 lead.