YORBA LINDA – Yorba Linda receiver Zack Sowder caught touchdown passes of 57, 79 and 41 yards as the Mustangs beat crosstown rival Esperanza, 21-7, Friday night at Yorba Linda High.
In addition to winning the “Battle of the Boulevard” for the third time in four years, Yorba Linda kept its playoff hopes alive. The Mustangs (3-6, 1-1) must beat Foothill next week to receive one of the Crestview League’s two automatic playoff berths.
Esperanza is 1-8, 0-2.
Yorba Linda scored on the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Kamren Freck hitting Sowder down the seam. The two later connected for scores on consecutive third-quarter possessions. Freck threw for 265 yards, 215 going to Sowder.
With QB Trevor Markowitz injured, Esperanza started Treyden Buzzone. The freshman completed his first four pass attempts, but couldn’t connect deep to Blake Peters. The Aztecs also couldn’t get running back Patrick Campos going as Buzzone finished with 120 passing yards.
Esperanza running back Parker Hinds scored on a short run in the fourth quarter.
Contact the writer: bwhitehead@ocregister.com
