PREP EXTRA / ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Armstrong’s Late Touchdowns Lift La Habra

Jerome Torres stopped La Serna’s Ryan Mele at La Habra’s two-yard line as time ran out and the Highlanders rallied for a 29-28 homecoming victory Friday at La Habra High.

La Habra (2-3) trailed, 28-13, early in the fourth quarter when Nick Armstrong entered to change the Highlander’s fortunes.

Armstrong caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Jon Marshall with 10 minutes 39 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The two combined on a two-point conversion pass that cut La Serna’s lead to 28-21.

With 4:19 left to play, Marshall passed 15 yards to Armstrong for the score. Armstrong then took a high snap from center on the conversion try, and ran it in for the two-point conversion.

La Habra had its first lead of the game, but the Highlanders then had to hold off La Serna’s last threat.

The Lancers (2-3) started from their own 25 and, behind the passing of Max Woods, drove to the La Habra two, where Torres finally put an end to it.

Woods put on a spectacular passing show, as the junior quarterback completed 18 of 36 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns. One covered 87 yards to Justin Ferguson, giving La Serna a 21-13 lead with 1:14 left in the third quarter.

La Serna increased its lead to 28-13 when Ryan Atencio returned a Marshall pass 28 yards for a score 37 seconds later.