WALNUT – La Habra’s no-huddle offense proved to be effective against South Hills of West Covina on Friday night, scoring its first three touchdowns on series that lasted 2:18 or less.
The Highlanders defense also played an important role in helping put the game away by halftime, capitalizing on fumbles returned for touchdowns on their way to blanking the Huskies, 61-0, in a noneague game at Walnut High.
It was La Habra’s first meeting with South Hills (1-1) since 2009, when it beat the Huskies, 37-10, at home in a nonleague game.
La Habra junior quarterback Eric Barriere completed 14 of his 21 passes for 239 yards and four touchdowns before giving way to sophomore Joey Gutiérrez, who played the rest of the game.
Mike Wheeler and Trevor Casados scored the Highlanders’ defensive touchdowns 26 seconds apart early in the second quarter. Wheeler pried the ball loose from Huskies QB Garrett Fonseca and recovered it in the end zone to push the lead to 28-0 just 53 seconds into the second quarter.
Casados followed by stripping the ball from Fonseca and escaped 3 yards to increase La Habra’s advantage to 35-0.
C.J. Taylor had three receptions for 98 yards with two touchdowns for the Highlanders (1-1), and he had a 90-yard run with 2:10 to play in the game.
Before Friday night’s game, La Habra had not shut out an opponent since Oct. 18, 2013, when it routed Sunny Hills, 55-0 and had not scored at least 60 points since pummeling Buena Park, 62-0 in a league matchup on Oct. 16, 2009.
The Highlanders will play its second consecutive road game of the season at Mission Viejo in nonleague action on Sept. 12.
