FACTS AND FIGURES / PLAYOFF HISTORY

Buena Park

Last appearance: 1997 (second year in a row).

Record: 0-10 in 10 appearances.

Highlights: Made three consecutive appearances from 1990-92.

Fullerton

Fullerton

Last appearance: 1995.

Record: 17-21 in 22 appearances since 1945.

Highlights: Defeated La Mirada in 1984 to win the Central Conference championship, ending a 57-year title drought. Won major division championships in 1918, over Coronado, and 1927, defeating Santa Maria.

La Habra

Last appearance: 1993 (only appearance since 1988).

Record: 10-12 in 12 appearances.

Highlights: Qualified for playoffs six years in a row from 1981-86, losing to Sunny Hills in the 1983 Central Conference championship game.

Sonora

Last appearance: 1993 (only appearance since 1985).

Record: 13-9 in 10 appearances.

Highlights: Allowed just five touchdowns in five games in winning the 1975 2-A championship, defeating El Dorado in the title game.

Sunny Hills

Last appearance: 1997 (fourth year in a row).

Record: 27-16 in 19 appearances.

Highlights: Has beaten county opponents in three championship games, defeating La Habra for 1983 Central Conference title, Tustin in 1990 Division VI final and Rancho Alamitos for 1992 Division VII championship.

Troy

Last appearance: 1997 (third year in a row).

Record: 3-14 in 14 appearances.

Highlights: Defeated Los Amigos, 20-16, in 1996 to end a nine-game streak of first-round losses.

1997 IN REVIEW

Sunny Hills rolled to its 12th Freeway title (ninth outright) since 1974. The only blemish on the Lancers’ league record was a tie with Troy, who finished third behind Buena Park. The Coyotes’ only league loss was to Sunny Hills and Troy’s only league defeat was to Buena Park.

Sonora sputtered to fourth. Neither Fullerton nor La Habra won a league game; fittingly the game between the two ended in a tie.

The Division VIII playoffs were short and and not so sweet; all three teams lost in the first round.

Buena Park’s rushing attack was held to 16 net yards during a 24-6 loss to Costa Mesa. Sunny Hills’ hopes were dashed by Pacifica’s Frankie Morieda, who broke four tackles on an 11-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown run during the Mariners’ 17-13 victory. Troy was punished by La Mirada, 50-6. (La Mirada lost in the division final to Laguna Hills.)

Buena Park’s Brian McDonald led all Freeway running backs with 1,362 rushing yards, scoring 10 touchdowns. But Sunny Hills had the league’s best backfield. MVP Kevin Haiola rushed for 1,027 yards (averaging 9.6 yards per carry) and scored nine touchdowns, and partner Adam Rodriguez had 954 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Other top ground gainers included Sonora’s Deric Hillard, with 799 yards and nine touchdowns, and Fullerton’s Chad Staffieri, with 727 yards and four touchdowns.

Leading quarterbacks included Sonora’s Clint Patton, who completed 49.2% of his passes for 1,034 yards and seven touchdowns, and Fullerton’s Justin Bruce, who completed 44.8% of his passes for 811 yards and 13 touchdowns.

On defense, Staffieri and La Habra’s Josh White were among the county leaders in interceptions with four each.

League

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Standings W L T Sunny Hills 4 0 1 Buena Park 4 1 0 Troy 3 1 1 Sonora 2 3 0 Fullerton 0 4 1 La Habra 0 4 1

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Overall

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Standings W L T TP PA Sunny Hills 8 2 1 257 123 Buena Park 5 6 0 151 154 Troy 5 5 1 203 205 Sonora 4 6 0 138 248 Fullerton 3 6 1 191 267 La Habra 2 7 1 104 213

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Leaders /Statistics include regular-season games only

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PASSING Att Cp TD Yds Morales, La Habra 200 83 7 1,206 Patton, Sonora 130 64 7 1,034 Bruce, Fullerton 154 69 13 811 Muther, Troy 101 38 3 543 Bruce, Sunny Hills 82 30 5 472

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RUSHING Att Yds Avg. McDonald, Buena Park 238 1,342 5.6 Haiola, Sunny Hills 98 1,009 10.3 Vargas, Troy 151 928 6.1 Rodriguez, Sunny Hills 142 911 6.4 Hilliard, Sonora 131 799 6.1

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RECEIVING Att Yds Avg. Hilliard, Sonora 22 266 12.1 Sutton, La Habra 21 258 12.3 Easton, Fullerton 20 251 12.6 Winterswyk, Sonora 19 322 16.9 Herrera, La Habra 19 234 12.3

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SCORING TD FG XP Pts Rodriguez, Sunny Hills 13 0 2 80 Frazier, Troy 12 0 0 72 Vargas, Troy 7 2 23 71 McDonald, Buena Park 10 0 2 62 Cody, Fullerton 5 5 17 62

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