Dallas Shipp scored on La Mirada’s first play from scrimmage and had 146 yards receiving overall
(La Habra) – La Mirada jumped on La Habra for 28 points in the first quarter and never looked back in a 45-27 win Thursday night on the Highlanders home field.
Dallas Shipp caught a Gerry Myres swing pass on the Matadores first play from scrimmage and turned it into a 49 yard touchdown for a quick 7-0 lead.
Shipp was Myres go to guy all night. The 6’5” senior finished with seven catches for 146 yards and two scores.
After La Mirada stonewalled La Habra on the next series, the Mats immediately hit the Highlanders with another lightning strike. Again the first play from scrimmage resulted in a big play touchdown. This time it was Johnny Hills who bolted through the line and past the secondary for a 73 yard touchdown run. Two offensive plays and it was 14-0 La Mirada.
Hills was a perfect balance on the ground to Shipp’s and Myres’ heroics in the air. Hills chewed up yardage to the tune of 190 yards and two TDs on 15 carries.
La Habra answered with a Carlos Martin one yard touchdown run later in the quarter but La Mirada responded with another Hills explosion – this time for a 70 yard touchdown romp. The Matadores were slippping a bit as they needed two plays to score this time.
The Video game first quarter wasn’t over however as Christian Casas took a 16 yard pass from Sean Sparling to the casa.
But the Matadores let the Shipp sail again as Myres connected with him for a 48 yard scoring strike and Mike Moschetti’s crew went into the second up 28-13.
Austin Watkins’ 39 yard field goal in the second quarter sent the Matadores into the halftime break up 31-13.
Penalties plagued La Mirada in the third as La Habra tried to climb back into it. An early Matadore drive resulted in a missed 22 yard field goal. The Highlanders then marched 80 yards on 12 plays with Martin going in from a yard out to cut the advantage to 31-20.
On the next series La Miarda faced a fourth and one on the La Habra 27. After a timeout, Moschetti pulled off the call of the night. Myers faked a run and rolled out and found his twin brother James who scored on a catch and carry for a 38-20 lead with five seconds left in the third. There was still a quarter left but the play proved to be dagger to the Highlanders heart.
Adam Carrasco added a score in the fourth for the Mats and Sparling went in from three yards out for La Habra to cap the scoring.
Moschetti was satisfied with the victory but tempered his enthusiasm.
“I thought Gerry Myres played well and I thought Dallas Shipp made big plays early on but we’re really inconsistent on offense right now,” Moschetti said. “We’ve got a long way to go. We’re grateful to be 2-0 but we’re not going to settle. We have to think about this tonight, refocus and be ready to go again tomorrow morning.”
Myres completed 13 of 19 for 229 yards and two scores with no interceptions. Tyler Luatua was dominant defensively and also hauled in seven passes for 59 yards.
Casas stood out for La Habra with seven catches for 108 yards and a touchdown. Martin scored twice and rushed for 88 yards.
La Mirada will take on Bishop Amat at home next week while La Habra faces St. Paul.
LM 28 3 7 7 45
LH 13 0 7 7 27
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