
Southwest Division Championship Game
TUSTIN (9-4) vs. LA HABRA (11-2)
Site, time: Angel Stadium, Saturday, 2 p.m.
Outlook: The second-seeded Highlanders are back in the CIF finals, even though it is in a different division. La Habra defeated Fullerton in last year's Southern Division final.
La Habra started the season 3-0, but it lost consecutive games to Pac-5 playoff teams, Los Alamitos and San Clemente. Since then, La Habra has won eight consecutive games. In the playoffs, the Highlanders defeated Anaheim, 83-0, El Dorado, 23-14, and Trabuco Hills, 27-22, to advance to today's final.
La Habra is led by quarterback Randall Nygren, wide receiver Ronnie Hillman and running back Joshua Quezada. Tustin finished in a three-way tie for the Century League title.
The Tillers entered the playoffs as the No. 2 team after the coin flip. Tustin lost its first three games of the regular season then won six consecutive before losing to El Dorado in the final game of the regular season.
The Tillers are led by quarterback Taylor Richardson, wingbacks Anthony Wilkerson and Ameer Webb and defensive end Chris Robinson. In the playoffs, Tustin defeated Magnolia, 76-26, Pacifica, 49-21, and Canyon, 63-28, to advance to its first final since 1997.
• Southwest breakdown: Team leaders
• Southwest breakdown: Projected lineups
• Southwest breakdown: Coach's analysis and prediction