Locke’s Lee Makes a Run for It : Prep football: He completes a strong regular season in 45-16 victory over Fremont.

With the City Section rushing title already in hand, Fred Lee of Locke High made a case for player-of-the-year accolades as well Thursday afternoon.

The senior tailback rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns, scored on a 40-yard pass play and had two two-point conversions to lead the Saints to a 45-16 victory over visiting Fremont.

The game ended because of darkness with four minutes to play.

Locke finished 9-1 overall and 8-0 in the Southeastern Conference. The Saints expect to be seeded third or fourth in next week’s Division 4-A playoffs. Pairings will be announced today.

Fremont dropped to 7-3 and 6-2 but will probably receive a bid to the 4-A playoffs as well.

Lee, who played behind all-City running back Sirr Parker last season, finished the regular season with 1,679 yards and 28 touchdowns, averaging 10 yards a carry.

Lee’s chief competition for 4-A player of the year is Sylmar running back Durell Price, who won the award last year as a junior and has rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the undefeated Spartans.

“This season has exceeded all of my expectations,” said Lee, who is 6 feet 1 and 190 pounds. “I wanted to gain a lot of yards, but to win the rushing title and gain so much attention has been fantastic.”

With Fremont keying on Lee, Locke Coach E.C. Robinson shuffled the offense early and watched as the Saints built a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

With Locke ahead, 22-13, in the third quarter, Lee broke loose for several long runs. He even lined up as a receiver on one play and gave the Saints a 37-16 lead with his touchdown reception on a pass from Jacoby Ward.

Ward completed six of 11 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns.

Fremont’s noted passing game never materialized. Robert Loera completed nine of 21 passes for 132 yards.

Trailing, 30-16, in the third quarter, the Pathfinders were driving when Zeus Saavedra bobbled a Loera pass and Locke’s Ellis Enyard intercepted on his goal line.

“The playoffs will be important to me, but after finishing 0-9 last year, this is such a nice way to come back,” Robinson said. “It makes everything worthwhile.”