Sonora’s Big-Play First Half Is Enough to Beat Fullerton

LA HABRA — Three first-half plays that gained 64 yards or more helped Sonora to all the points it needed and the Raiders held on to a 24-14 victory over Fullerton in a Freeway League game Friday night at La Habra High.

The Raiders took a 24-7 halftime and hung on. On the first play from scrimmage, Sonora’s Deric Hilliard ran 64-yards to Fullerton’s 21-yard line. Eight plays later, Hilliard, who rushed for 218 yards in 17 carries, scored on a one-yard run for a 7-0 lead.

Fullerton then tied the score with a seven-play, 62-yard drive capped by a 24-yard touchdown pass from Justin Bruce to Jonathon Pate.

Fullerton (3-3-1, 0-1-1) could have taken advantage of a Sonora mistake in the second quarter when Jacob Boggs fumbled a punt return and the Indians recovered on Sonora’s 23-yard line. But an offensive pass interference call and muffed pitch took forced Fullerton to punt.

On the next play, Aaron Winterswyk caught a Clint Patton pass in the flat and broke four tackles on the way to a 72-yard touchdown and a 14-7 Sonora lead.

Hilliard then added to Sonora’s lead with an 80-yard touchdown run with 3 minutes 54 seconds left in the second quarter.

Patton kicked a 41-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter to give Sonora (3-4, 1-1) a 24-7 lead.

Fullerton scored in the fourth quarter on a three-yard pass from Bruce to Jeff Cody.