HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS : Ruiz Passes Baldwin Park Over Nogales

Baldwin Park quarterback Marc Ruiz passed for three touchdowns to lead the Braves to a 28-7 victory over La Puente Nogales Saturday night in the Southern Section Division IV championship game at Citrus College.

Ruiz, a senior, helped rally Baldwin Park from an early 7-0 deficit with two second-quarter touchdown passes as the Braves avenged an early season Sierra League loss.

Nogales (12-1-1) scored on its first play from scrimmage when Lawrence Lanham ran 67 yards for a touchdown.

After that score, Baldwin Park shut down Lanham and backfield mate Lamont Adams.

The two backs entered the game with more than 2,900 yards combined rushing, but the Braves held Lanham to 113 yards and Adams to 43.

Ruiz, who completed only 14 of 34 passes for 221 yards, passed 19 yards to Dante Casillas and nine yards to Art Tejada to give Baldwin Park a 14-7 halftime lead.