PREP EXTRA / FRIDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Buena Park Runs Over La Habra, Moves Into Tie for First

BUENA PARK —  Buena Park’s strong running game and aggressive defensive front finished off La Habra, 23-13, in a Freeway League game Thursday night at Buena Park High, and kept the Coyotes in contention for a playoff berth.

Buena Park, Sonora, Fullerton and Sunny Hills are in a four-way tie for first. Only three teams will advance to the playoffs. Those teams will be decided by a coin toss.

Leading the way for the Coyotes was quarterback David Barrios, who threw a 45-yard touchdown to Corey Lyday on the first play of the fourth quarter that appeared to put the game out of reach, 16-7. Barrios’ touchdown pass was the Coyotes’ only completion of the game in five attempts. The touchdown capped a 14-play, 98-yard march that consumed nearly seven minutes.

However, La Habra (3-7, 1-4) responded quickly, driving 65 yards in eight plays to score. Wide receiver Will McIntosh made it 16-13, when he turned a short pass into a 45-yard score, his second touchdown reception of the game, with nine minutes 21 seconds remaining. The Highlanders’ two-point conversion attempt failed.

Lyday fumbled the ensuing kickoff and La Habra recovered at the Buena Park 37. Quarterback Johnny Marshall, who was forced out of the pocket throughout the game and sacked six times, fumbled the snap on his third play from scrimmage. The Coyotes recovered, but were unable to convert.

Marshall completed nine of 24 passes for 147 yards, including two touchdowns and two interceptions, for the Highlanders.

Buena Park’s leading rusher, Tim Jones, carried 18 times for 117 yards.