South Hills Stays on Track for Victory

In most of its games this season, West Covina South Hills had put away opponents by the start of the fourth quarter, so the Huskies were in an unfamiliar position as they led San Gabriel by only four points early in the fourth quarter Friday night.

It was a good thing for South Hills, then, that running back Marquies Windbush and receiver Bryan Payton found themselves in familiar territory.

Windbush, following Payton’s blocking, ran 61 yards for a touchdown with slightly less than 10 minutes to play, and the Huskies pulled away for a 25-6 victory in the Southern Section Division VII final at Covina District Stadium.

It was the second consecutive section title for South Hills (13-1) and its third in four years. The Huskies also won in 2000.

South Hills led, 10-6, entering the fourth quarter before Windbush and Payton made their way up the sideline in tandem. The ensuing two-point conversion gave South Hills an 18-6 lead.

“We’re track partners, so we’re used to running like that,” said Payton, who flattened two would-be tacklers during the run. “He’s always trying to catch me, so he just followed me like normal.”

Windbush, a sophomore, added a three-yard touchdown with 4:57 left and finished with 159 yards and two touchdowns in 19 carries.

South Hills’ defense, however, gets most of the credit for this victory. San Gabriel (11-3) gained only 209 yards against the Huskies, who allowed only the Matadors’ six points in their four playoff games.

Peter Yoon

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La Habra 34, Anaheim Western 7 -- When it came time to rely on their passing games in the Division IX final at Cal State Fullerton, the Highlanders had Daniel Morales, who threw for 225 yards and four touchdowns. Western had nobody.

La Habra secured its second consecutive section title by shutting down the Pioneers’ one-dimensional offense. Western (12-2), which finished the game with no passing yards and threw an interception, did not earn a first down until 26 seconds were left in the first half. By then, the Highlanders had built a 27-0 lead.

La Habra (11-3) averaged 10 yards per play in the first half, taking only five to move 60 yards in its first possession, which ended with a three-yard touchdown pass from Morales to receiver Nick Falcioni.

Jesse Quezada does not start at running back for La Habra, but the reserve did a skillful job spotting Anthony Torres. Quezada rushed for 90 yards in six carries in the first half, including a 28-yard touchdown run with 4:56 left in the first quarter that gave the Highlanders a 14-0 lead.

Morales connected with Trenton Sakioka on a 10-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter for a 21-0 lead. Morales’ third touchdown pass of the half went to tight end Curtis Rihn with 5:41 left.

Dan Arritt

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Lompoc 44, Inglewood Morningside 6 -- The defending-champion Braves (12-2) sustained two early drives and then capitalized on back-to-back turnovers on kickoffs to take a commanding 30-0 lead early in the second quarter en route to their 11th consecutive victory and third section title in the Division X title game at Lompoc.

The Monarchs (12-2), playing in their first section final since 1991, out-gained Lompoc, 275-266 yards, but didn’t score until the fourth quarter when Heliki Fifita, who finished with 84 yards in 15 carries, ran in from two yards.

-- Dave Loveton