Lieng Sits This One Out; Brea Rolls On

Brea Olinda continued its quest for its first back-to-back Orange League titles since the Southern Section championship teams of Coach Dick Tucker in the early 1960s with a 32-6 victory over visiting Anaheim Friday night.

Despite playing without running back Scott Lieng, who accounted for nearly 50% of the Wildcats’ rushing total this season, Brea had little trouble remaining undefeated in league play. Lieng sat out the game with a bad ankle but is expected to be back for the final league games against Magnolia and Savanna.

The running chores where spread around, with no one gaining more than 60 yards.

Ken Washington scored the first Wildcat touchdown from two yards out in the first quarter, and Chris Sanford scored from the one on a fourth-down play in the second quarter.

The Wildcats increased their lead to 19-0 on the opening drive of the second half, when Sanford scored from the one on a drive set up by a 38-yard kickoff return by Washington.

Deonta Birdsong went back 20 yards to chase down a long punt and returned it 71 yards for a Brea touchdown to increase the Wildcats’ lead to 26-0 with 7:56 left in the third quarter.

Brea scored again in the fourth quarter on a 44-yard pass play from Travis Blood to Ron Benigno.

Anaheim averted a shutout with 10 seconds left in the game on a 26-yard touchdown pass play from Johnny Aguilera to Jalani Parham.

Anaheim came up with its biggest defensive play of the game on the final play of the first half, when Kevin Clawson plugged up a hole to prevent Sanford from scoring from less than a yard to keep the Brea lead to 13-0.

Dustin Sweeter ended the game as the leading rusher for the Wildcats with 57 yards. Dave Lopez paced the Colonists with 45 yards on the ground.