PREP EXTRA: SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : FREEWAY LEAGUE : La Habra Makes Late Stand, Hangs On to Edge Fullerton

LA HABRA — La Habra’s defense was forced to stop Fullerton twice in the final 2 1/2 minutes of the game to preserve a 27-26 victory Friday night at La Habra in Freeway League play.

After a referee’s inadvertent whistle negated a Highlanders’ fumble recovery, Fullerton running back Chris Young found Ryan Gregory with a 45-yard touchdown pass to pull within one point with 2 minutes 14 seconds left in the game.

The Indians attempted a two-point conversion because Aaron Kosareff had already blocked two conversion attempts in the game. Gabriel Almanza was forced from the pocket and scrambled to the five-yard line, where he was knocked out of bounds.

Fullerton had a last chance when the Highlanders (3-5, 1-2) were forced to punt. With 1:19 left, Rickey Martinez intercepted a pass by Almanza and clinched the victory.

La Habra dominated the first half, jumping to a 17-0 lead after a field goal by Chris Diaz, a five-yard touchdown run by Johnny Yoo and a seven-yard scoring pass from Sonje Berg to Will McIntosh.

Fullerton (4-4, 1-2) scored on a one-yard dive by John Wilkie with 29 seconds left in the half, but a 66-yard kickoff return by Raoul Apodaca set up a 24-yard field goal by Diaz with one second left.

The Highlanders scored again on a one-yard run by Nick Armstrong.