Porter Again Has Big Play for Lancers

Sunny Hills needed a boost, so it looked to its big-play guy and he delivered . . . again.

After Buena Park closed to within five points early in the fourth quarter, Guy Porter returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown to shift the momentum and help Sunny Hills hold off Buena Park, 36-17, in a Freeway League game Friday at Buena Park High.

The victory gave Sunny Hills (7-3, 4-1 in league) a share of the league title with Troy (6-4, 4-1). With the loss, Buena Park (4-6, 3-2) finished as the league’s No. 3 team and earned an automatic berth into the playoffs.

Sunny Hills will enter the playoffs as the league’s top-seeded team because it defeated Troy, 27-7, Nov. 1.

Porter’s heroics have almost become routine for the Lancers. He has returned two kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns and has returned an interception for a touchdown this season.

“He’s been doing it all year,” Sunny Hills Coach Tim Devaney said. “His kickoff return tonight was a tide-turner. We needed that spark.”

That’s because Buena Park had closed the gap to 22-15 with 9 minutes 34 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Brett Strike’s 33-yard run highlighted a 12-play, 87-yard scoring drive that was capped by a one-yard run by quarterback Ruben Gasso (eight carries, 65 yards).

But Porter answered.

Florin Gociu’s ensuing kickoff skipped near the Sunny Hills 20 and Porter fielded the ball at the 14, then bobbled it.

“I thought I was going to get drilled,” Porter said. “After I cut back to the left I saw the whole side of the field open up. I got some great blocks.”

Sunny Hills put the game out of reach using a six-minute scoring drive on its next to make it 35-17 with 1:21 remaining.

Sunny Hills junior Adam Rodriguez rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns in 20 carries and junior Kevin Haiola had 115 yards and two touchdowns in 18 carries. The ground game was so productive that quarterback Chris Zeiler didn’t attempt a pass in the second half.

Buena Park junior Brian McDonald rushed for 109 yards in 22 carries and scored on a 29-yard run on the Coyotes’ first possession before Sunny Hills scored 22 consecutive points to take control.