Damien Dominates Ayala

Nick Davila controlled the first half and La Verne Damien’s defense took care of the second, as the Spartans easily defeated host Chino Hills Ayala, 28-12, Thursday night, forcing a three-way tie for the championship in the Sierra League.

Damien (8-2, 3-1), Ayala and Chino each finished league play with one loss -- to each other. A three-way coin flip this morning will determine the top-seeded team for the Southern Section Division II playoffs.

Davila, a senior, completed 10 of 13 passes for 192 yards and one touchdown in the first half, taking The Times’ No. 22-ranked team 80 yards in six plays on its first possession for a 6-0 lead it would never relinquish.

Ayala, ranked No. 10 by The Times and No. 3 in the Southern Section Division II poll, was looking to win its second consecutive league title. But the Bulldogs were unable to get anything going on offense, despite 109 yards passing by Colin McNeil in the first half.

Damien, No. 4 in Division II, held Ayala to only 26 yards for the game.

-- Melanie Neff

Ventura St. Bonaventure 28, Ventura Buena 6 -- Whitney Lewis scored three touchdowns and Brian Stevens completed 24 of 41 passes for 243 yards to help the No. 12 Seraphs win the Channel League title in their first season of Division IV competition.

St. Bonaventure (9-1, 5-0) dominated defensively, keeping Buena (8-2, 4-1) from establishing a consistent running game. Buena running back Alex Garfio, who entered the game with 1,772 yards rushing, finished with 62 yards in 22 carries.

Lewis scored two touchdowns in the second half. He had a 35-yard touchdown reception from Stevens and also had a nine-yard run. Lewis had six receptions for 96 yards.

-- Eric Sondheimer

La Habra 35, Fullerton Troy 6 -- The Highlanders (9-1, 5-0) followed the lead of quarterback Daniel Morales, who passed for 313 yards and touchdowns of nine and 13 yards, to win the Freeway League title showdown at Fullerton High.

Troy (6-4, 3-2) got a 21-yard touchdown pass from Jonathan Salazar to Matt Resquer late in the third quarter to avoid the shutout.

-- Paul McLeod

Santa Ana Foothill 45, Newport Harbor 21 -- Senior running back Mike Liti rushed for 260 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 91 yards and two more touchdowns for the Knights (8-2, 4-1), who clinched the Sea View League title at Tustin High.

Liti scored on runs of 77 and four yards and on pass plays of 78 and 13 yards from quarterback Dan Poole, who completed 12 of 16 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns.

-- Steve Kresal

Laguna Hills 33, Irvine 6 -- Dane Endly caught three passes -- for touchdowns of 15, 88 and 59 yards -- to lead the Hawks past the host Vaqueros and into a second-place tie in the Sea View League.

Laguna Hills (6-4, 3-2) finished tied with Irvine (6-4, 3-2) and Newport Harbor (7-3, 3-2) behind Foothill.

A coin flip at Irvine High this morning will determine the league’s final two automatic berths in the Division VI playoffs.