LA HABRA – La Habra High’s well-documented supremacy over its local rivals has grown so strong that it has officially entered the county record book.
The Highlanders’ 42-0 home victory against Troy on Friday night was their 45th straight against a Freeway League competitor, surpassing the record for consecutive league wins set by Mission Viejo in 2007.
On Nov. 2, 2006, La Habra lost to Troy 42-38. A week later, the Highlanders swamped Fullerton 28-0, and they have been unstoppable since.
“It’s a tradition for us,” Highlanders linebacker Cameron Rivas said after his team’s second shutout of the season. “You start in the summer to prepare to not get beat on the scoreboard. Really it’s a mindset you adopt if you play here.”
La Habra (8-2, 5-0) will soon find out what its ninth straight Freeway League championship means in the final Southwest Division playoff rankings. Though the Highlanders twice gave up first downs with illegal contact penalties and dropped three passes against Troy (5-5, 2-3), they seemed focused on strengthening their cause with 21 points in the second quarter that netted a 35-point halftime lead.
Prince Ross was the spark with three catches for 77 yards, including a 23-yarder for the game’s first touchdown. Quarterback Eric Barriere completed six of his 15 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns in the final Freeway League game of his accomplished four-year career.
Troy’s Ryan Scotti closed out a stellar run for the Warriors with 172 all-purpose yards, including 76 yards on four receptions.
