This story was updated Nov. 3 at 4:30 p.m. with information on the first round of CIF Division 8 playoffs and Nov. 8 at 2:20 p.m. with quotes from head coach Peter Karavedas.
The Sunny Hills football team finished the regular season Nov. 1 at home with another trouncing of a Freeway League opponent, defeating Troy High School 48-16 and capturing the city championship title for a second year in a row.
Running back senior Jun Ahn scored four touchdowns during the game at Buena Park High School stadium, where Sunny Hills recognized seniors not only on the football team, but also on the cheerleading squad.
By Sunday, the Lancers (8-2 overall, 4-1 in the Freeway League) were ranked No. 1 in the CIF-Southern Section, Division 8, according to maxpreps.com. Ironically, the team just below them is Aliso Niguel, which Sunny Hills lost to in a thrilling overtime defeat in the first game of the season.
“The number one ranking is true, but it’s a little misleading,” head coach Peter Karavedas said. “The big thing is that once the playoffs start, rankings and records all go out the window, because it’s all about one game.”
Sunny Hills will play host to Tustin High School (5-5) Friday, Nov. 8, at Buena Park High School stadium at 7 p.m., according to pairings posted on ocvarsity.com. The Tillers are ranked No. 6 in Division 8, according to maxpreps.com.
Under Karavedas, the Lancers have yet to advance past the first round of previous CIF playoffs, but if the team goes on a run this year and reaches the title game, it could have a possible rematch against Aliso Niguel, which plays No. 14-ranked Santa Ana (6-4) in the first round of Division 8 playoffs, according to maxpreps.com.
Friday’s game started with Sunny Hills taking possession on the first series of the game. The team drove down the field, and Ahn set the tone for the rest of the game with his first score on a 16-yard touchdown run.
With a bit over two minutes left in the first quarter, the senior running back scored again on a four-yard touchdown run.
Sunny Hills’ defense shut out Troy (3-7 overall, 2-3 in the Freeway League) for much of the first half, even intercepting a pass for a pick six with a bit over seven minutes left in the second quarter, making the score 21-0.
“There was a lot of great energy and a lot of guys excited to play for each other, and that’s what we want,” head football coach Peter Karavedas said. “At the end of the day this isn’t about one person, but us as a team.”
Troy didn’t score until the 5:21 mark of the second quarter when the Warriors’ quarterback threw a touchdown pass to one of his receivers.
But the Lancers made sure that Troy would not be able to build any momentum from that score by driving down the field with Ahn again scoring on a 12-yard touchdown scamper with a little over two minutes left before halftime, which ended with the score 28-7.
In the third quarter, Sunny Hills scored another touchdown but gave up a safety to the Warriors. Both teams didn’t score again until the fourth quarter.
After the game, wide receiver and defensive back senior Wilson Cal, a third-year varsity player, reflected on the team’s progression and success throughout the years.
“This was a good way to go out,” Cal said. “There’s no question who owns the city — it’s us.”
The varsity team became city champions along with the freshman/sophomore and junior varsity teams, which won their respective games against Troy earlier in the week.
“We’re happy to have won the city championship in all three levels, but this isn’t the end goal,” Karavedas said. “The end goal is to put a ring on our fingers.”
