Hillman leads La Habra to 16-6 victory in Southeast final
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Ronnie Hillman rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown to lead La Habra to a 16-6 victory over Fullerton in the Southeast Division championship at Santa Ana Stadium.
The Highlanders finish their season with a perfect 13-0 record and win their first championship since 2004. The Indians (9-4) were attempting to win their first title since 1984.
After La Habra turned the ball over twice, deep in Fullerton territory, on its first two possessions, Hillman raced 71 yards for a touchdown with 33 seconds left in the first quarter to give the Highlanders a 6-0 lead. Petey Puga kicked a 31-yard field goal midway through the second quarter to up La Habra’s lead to 9-0.
Michael Allain capped a nine-play, 64-yard scoring drive with a two-yard TD run with 2:53 left in the half, but the Indians missed the PAT and trailed, 9-6, at the break.
The Highlanders’ defense held Allain, the Freeway League’s leading rusher with 2,158 yards, to 77 yards rushing in 19 carries.
La Habra quarterback Chris Morales added a two-yard TD run in the third quarter to seal the victory. The Highlanders outscored their four playoff opponents, 174-27.
-- Tom Connolly, guest blogger