Upland Leaves No Doubt This Time

A year after losing a championship game on a controversial fifth down, Upland High rebounded the best way a team can.

The Highlanders rightfully claimed the Southern Section Division II football championship and this time left no doubt in a 26-10 victory over Baseline League rival Chino on Friday night at Citrus College.

Quarterback Bo Drake passed for 225 yards and two touchdowns and led a 17-play, 99-yard fourth-quarter drive that helped seal the victory for second-seeded Upland (13-1).

The clinching drive took seven and a half minutes and culminated with Drake scoring on a one-yard sneak with 4:46 remaining.

The victory took a bit of the sting from last season’s title game when the Highlanders watched as Diamond Bar was awarded an extra down on its game-winning drive.

Chino (12-2) lost, 33-7, to Upland earlier this season.

DIVISION V

Corona Centennial 27, Elsinore 18--Mike Bass rushed for 133 yards in 24 carries to push his season total to 2,875 as the Huskies won their first championship at Elsinore.

Centennial (13-1) used a 13-play, 63-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter to take control. The drive ended when quarterback Lamar Broadway connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Che’ Stu.

DIVISION VI

Irvine 14, Newport Harbor 0--Irvine held running back Chris Manderino to 72 yards in 24 carries and limited the Sailors to 247 yards in beating the defending champion.

The Vaqueros, who avenged a 19-18 loss in last season’s section final, also took advantage of some big plays. They turned a fumble at the one-yard line into a quick drive and a 77-yard scoring pass play from quarterback Travis Otott to Eric Patton in the second quarter.

They added an insurance score in the third. Godfrey Young’s 43-yard kickoff return set up Otott’s scoring pass to David Doomey.

DIVISION IX

South Hills 19, La Habra 14--The Huskies (13-1) had four interceptions in the second half and came from behind to win their first section title in 20 years at Covina District Stadium.

The Huskies trailed, 14-13, at the half, but intercepted passes from Mike Keeling on two of the Highlanders’ first three drives of the second half.

South Hills didn’t capitalize on the first turnover, but it did on the second, taking over at the Highlander 36 following a diving interception by defensive back Jason Murray, who would score on a diving 12-yard reception for a 19-14 lead.

La Habra is 12-2.

DIVISION X

Paso Robles 43, Inglewood 40--Junior Brandon Thomas threw three touchdown passes to Jason Holmes and ran for a fourth score as the Bearcats (13-1) defeated the Sentinels (13-1) at El Camino College to win their third consecutive championship.

Adam Martinez ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns in 22 carries and Thomas completed nine of 15 passes for 179 yards as second-seeded Paso Robles spoiled top-seeded Inglewood’s first appearance in a final since 1933.

CITY INVITATIONAL

Gardena 31, Roosevelt 7--The Panthers (10-4) had 144 yards rushing and quarterback Chris Phillips passed for 132 yards and two touchdowns.