By Tim Peterson
(La Habra) – Josh “Juice” Quezada ran over South Hills for 210 yards and four touchdowns to lead La Habra to a 37-10 win over South Hills Thursday night. And to think for the Huskies, it could have been worse. Quezada had touchdown runs of 25 and 35 yards called back on penalties.
As it was he needed 28 carries to get the damage done before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter. Quezada scored twice in the first half and added two more touchdowns in the second half.
The Highlanders had 290 yards total on the ground and 422 overall. Brett Bartalone added 66 yards on five carries. Meanwhile La Habra’s defense held the Huskies to just 133 total yards including eight on the ground. South Hills Coach Steve Bogan summed it up best.
“They are a better football team plan and simple. Number Two (Quezada) was phenomenal. We got out hit. They tackled better, blocked better – just basic fundamental stuff,” Bogan said. “They’re a better team right now. That’s all there is to it.”
It didn’t look that way on La Habra’s first possession. Neiko Padilla picked off a pass and returned it down to the Highlander 21. The Drive stalled but Austin Daugherty booted a 42 yard field goal for a 3-0 South Hills lead.
On the next possession Quezada busted off a 37 yard run to highlight a 92 yard four play sprint down the field. He finished it with a 12 yard touchdown run for a 7-3 La Habra lead and the Highlanders would never trail again.
South Hills fumbled the ensuing kick off and La Habra recovered at the Huskie 19. Four plays later Sean Wale split the uprights from 30 yards out for a 10-3 lead.
La Habra faked a punt and went for it on fourth down early in the second quarter, but the Huskies made the play for the stop and took over at the La Habra 37. From there Brock Booth hit Dakota Behr for 22 yards and then found Ify Umodu in the corner of the end zone for a ten yard score as Umodu won the jump ball. South Hills was even but that was the last time the Huskies had a look at the game as La Habra reeled of 28 straight points.
Quezada’s two yard run capped a 75 yard march with three minutes left in the half as the Highlanders led 17-10 at the break.
La Habra scored on its first two possessions in the third quarter and that was about all she wrote. Aaron Porter hauled in a three yard pass from Cody Clements for a 31-10 advantage. The score was setup when Porter intercepted Booth and returned it back to the ten yard line.
La Habra scored again early in the fourth on a four yard Quezada run for the last tally of the night. The second half of the contest was marred by penalties and a couple of unsportsmanlike conduct calls.
“We got some work to do and we’re a good football team. But we got beat by a better one,” Bogan added.
Next week’s test isn’t any easier for the Huskies. They get Tesoro at Covina District Field.
SH 3 7 0 0 10
LH 10 7 14 6 37
Summary:
1st Qtr:
SH 8:39 Daugherty 42 yard FG
LH 7:29 Quezada 12 yd run (Wale Kick)
LH 5:29 Wale 30 yd FG
2nd Qtr:
SH 9:03 Umodu 10 yd pass from Booth (Daugherty Kick)
LH 3:00 Quezada 2 yd run (Wale Kick)
3rd Qtr:
LH 8:59 Quezada 1 yd run (Wale Kick)
LH 7:51 Porter 3 yd pass from Clements (Wale Kick)
4th Qtr:
LH 11:54 Quezada 4 yd run (Kick Blocked)
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