BUENA PARK D.J. Esquivel threw a career-high three touchdowns passes and ran for another as Sonora kept its playoff hopes alive with a 38-13 victory over Sunny Hills in a Freeway League game Friday night at Buena Park High.

The Raiders (5-3, 2-1) more than likely will need to defeat La Habra next week to secure their first playoff birth since 2001. 

"This is a confidence-building win; we feel we can beat La Habra next week," said Esquivel, who completed 15 of 20 passes for 289 yards.  

Trailing, 13-0, after two rushing touchdowns by Lancers running back Alejandro Hernandez in the first-quarter, Esquivel led a spirited comeback.

Esquivel connected on a 55-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Peterson to cut the Lancers lead to 13-7. Three plays after Graham Lovelady recovered a fumble, then Esquivel tossed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Cress to give the Raiders a 14-13 lead after the first quarter. 

In the second quarter, Sonora continued its offensive assault. Esquivel and Randy Vorick scored on a pair of 1-yard runs and the Raiders led 28-13 at halftime.

Cress caught eight passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns, and Peterson caught five passes for 132 yards and a touchdown for Sonora.

Hernandez led the Lancers (2-6, 0-3) with 144 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com