La Habra Stops Ulrich, Defeats Covina to Move Into Final

One week after saving the day against top-seeded Western, Covina’s Daniel Ulrich turned it over to La Habra.

Ulrich lost two fumbles in the second quarter Saturday night, helping the fourth-seeded Highlanders build a 27-point halftime lead and cruise to a 40-14 victory in a Southern Section Division IX semifinal game at Walnut High.

If that wasn’t bad enough for Ulrich, whose 99-yard interception return on the final play of the game Nov. 25 clinched the upset of Western, he also got knocked out of the game with La Habra in the second quarter with a separated shoulder.

Ulrich’s demise was due in part to the Highlander defense and special teams, which accounted for three turnovers and two touchdowns, helping La Habra win its 12th consecutive game and advance to the section finals for the first time since 1983.

“It’s defense that wins the games,” La Habra defensive lineman Edward Aldalco said. “I don’t think they’ve seen a defense that hits this hard.”

The game had the look of a shootout early on, with three touchdowns being scored during a 21-second span of the first quarter.

La Habra (12-1) marched 61 yards in 11 plays on the game’s opening possession and took a 7-0 lead on a two-yard run by Brent West.

Covina took one play to get even, as quarterback David Ulrich found wide receiver Scott Jarvis deep over the middle for a 70-yard touchdown pass.

Kevin Burrison answered for the Highlanders on the ensuing kickoff, sprinting untouched 88 yards down the sideline to put his team back up, 14-7.

After La Habra marched 76 yards in eight plays and took a 20-7 lead on a five-yard run by West early in the second quarter, Daniel Ulrich fumbled the ensuing kickoff. The Highlanders took advantage one play later when quarterback Mike Keeling hit Antonio Sanchez with a 28-yard touchdown pass for a 27-7 lead.

After a roughing-the-punter penalty kept another Covina drive alive later in the second quarter, Daniel Ulrich fumbled the ball at midfield following a 14-yard reception. Pascual Alvarez picked it up and returned it 35 yards to the Colt 15, where La Habra took a 34-7 lead two plays later on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Keeling to Jonathan Tapia.

Daniel Ulrich, the Colts’ leading receiver this season, separated his shoulder on the play prior to the touchdown.

Covina (9-4) came out throwing in the second half, but David Ulrich’s second attempt hit Sanchez in the chest and he returned it 42 yards for a touchdown and a 40-7 lead.