PREP EXTRA / ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Canyon Overcomes Slow Start, Beats Corona

Canyon shook off a dismal first half with two touchdown runs by Kody Miller to beat Corona, 14-3, in the final nonleague game for both teams Friday night at El Modena High School.

Canyon (4-1) was unable to mount almost any offense in the first half as quarterback Craig Scott was intercepted three times, and Troy Mills, the team’s leader rusher, sat out with a groin injury. Mills returned in the second half.

Corona (2-3) also struggled offensively in the first half despite getting the three interceptions. Corona had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Rico Burrascano with 2 minutes 26 seconds left in the second quarter.

Canyon did have one strong drive just before halftime. The Comanches got to the Corona 18, but missed a 35-yard field goal.

“There was no miracle to tell them [at halftime],” Canyon Coach Bob Hughes said. “The defense hung in there and we knew the offense would come around.”

Miller proved to be the Comanches’ savior in the second half. He returned the second-half kickoff 23 yards to give Canyon the ball at its 43.

Scott and Justin Jackson hooked up on a 39-yard pass to set up a one-yard run by Miller with 7:51 left in the third quarter.

Canyon fell back into its offensive slump in the fourth quarter when Scott was intercepted for a fourth time, giving the Panthers the ball at their 40.

Corona, however, could not convert on fourth and 14 on the Canyon 25, and the Comanches took over with 6:54 left.

Canyon went on a 75-yard drive, highlighted by a 21-yard run by Jamel Robinson, and Miller ran in from 10 yards out with 1:44 left.

“Everything started clicking for us in the second half,” said Miller, who finished with 42 yards rushing and also caught four passes for 66 yards.