LA HABRA — The La Habra football team needed an early boost of confidence in its nonleague game against El Dorado on Thursday at La Habra High School.
The Highlanders got what they needed on the opening kickoff and then, after briefly falling behind, got another burst of momentum on their way to a 40-13 victory.
For the Highlanders (1-1), ranked No. 21 in Orange County, the victory quickly erased the memory of last week’s 33-0 defeat against Upland.
No. 25 El Dorado entered the Week 1 contest after defeating Valley Christian 49-6.
“Well, honestly, it’s never about what happened last week,” La Habra coach Frank Mazzotta said. “I hope it’s a glimpse of maybe something good. It’s hard to tell. It’s game two. I really honestly couldn’t tell you for sure one way or the other. We will get better as the season goes, and hopefully we’re playing well at the right time.”
Damian Gomez got the Highlanders going with a 39-yard return on the opening kickoff and then had 42-yard run on the ensuing drive, giving La Habra a first-and-goal from the 10.
Two plays later, La Habra quarterback Kenneth Saucedo connected with Bryce Whitley for a 9-yard touchdown, the first of three receiving touchdowns for the senior receiver.
The Highlanders’ defense also made plays in key situations.
In the second quarter, El Dorado was down by two touchdowns but had a first-and-goal at the 1.
The Hawks were penalized 5 yards and then managed only 1 yard on the next three plays before settling for a field goal.
In the third quarter, El Dorado quarterback Nate Bento gave his team the lead with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Robert Hager followed by a 3-yard touchdown run.
The Hawks held the lead for about 10 seconds, as Gomez came through again, this time returning the ensuing kickoff for a 90-yard touchdown – the first of four consecutive touchdowns for La Habra.
“So, coming back from the loss, man, we just needed a switch in the team, and we were ready,” Gomez said. “We wanted this. It was our reckoning. We came out and we did what we were coached to do.”
Brandon Giron’s 37-yard touchdown run gave the Highlanders a 27-13 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Then the Highlanders put the game away with a 67-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback D.J. Mitchell to Whitley, followed by a 47-yard touchdown pass to Whitley from starting quarterback Kenneth Saucedo.
“Coach told us like, we got beat up pretty bad (last week),” Whitley said. “You know, we know how it feels to lose and we want to know how it feels to win.”
El Dorado was without senior running back Isaiah Quintero, who was sidelined with an unspecified injury.
Quintero, an All-North Hills League selection last season, had four carries for 38 yards and a touchdown in last week’s victory.
The senior is also a CIF Southern Section and CIF State champion wrestler.
