LA HABRA – No. 16 La Habra pasted visiting Sunny Hills, 49-6, on Friday night to secure a second-place finish in the Freeway League.
It will be the first time since 2006 that La Habra didn’t win the league, but with Troy losing to Buena Park on Friday, the Highlanders will have second to itself. The Highlanders (6-4, 4-1) have qualified for a spot in the Division 2 playoffs.
“We have another season starting next week, and we have a chance to do whatever we want,” La Habra coach Frank Mazzotta said. “It’s a choice; we have to make it. Now we got to put work in.”
Madison Wheeler scored three touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving, and rushed for 102 yards on 10 carries to lead the way for La Habra. Quarterback Zach Fogel accounted for three scores as well, throwing for two and rushing for another.
Wheeler busted off a 41-yard run, following a Sunny Hills three-and-out, and scored one play later to put La Habra on the board. After a Sunny Hills (6-4, 3-2) turnover on downs, La Habra scored its second touchdown six plays later, this time with Fogel running a zone read and scoring from 15 yards.
Marcus Carrasco then caught a tipped Sunny Hills pass and rumbled 15 yards into the end zone for a pick-six. Wheeler’s second rushing score in the final minute of the half pushed the Highlander lead to 28-0.
Following a Fogel to Wheeler passing score to open the second half, Sunny Hills used a good kick return and strung together a 13 play drive that was capped off by a one-yard score by Brenden Stanfill.
La Habra’s defense held Sunny Hills to 138 yards on 48 plays. Sunny Hills, who runs the double wing, threw the ball six passes and completed a season high four passes. La Habra’s potential seed in the Div. 2 playoffs will be announced Sunday.
