SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS: DIVISION VI : Sunny Hills Thwarts Late Drive, Posts 21-18 Victory

Despite 3 touchdown passes by Bellflower High School quarterback Mike Simmons, Sunny Hills held on for a 21-18 first-round Southern Section Division VI playoff victory Friday at Buena Park High School.

Bellflower, which ended the season at 8-3, was driving late in the game, but Simmons was intercepted by Lancer defensive back Steve Choi with 3:04 remaining in the game. Simmons completed 13 of 25 passes for 201 yards.

Sunny Hills (9-2) had 300 yards in total offense. Brian Pizula ran for 126 yards in 19 carries. Fullback Kenny Overby added 81 yards in 14 carries.

“If we are going to win, we’ve got to run the football,” Lancer Coach Tim Devaney said. “If we get some yardage in our passing game, it’s icing on the cake.”

Sunny Hills’ Jon Beuerlein ran for his team’s first touchdown in the first quarter on a 1-yard run. Four minutes later in the same period, Beuerlein connected with a wide-open Jeff White on a 25-yard touchdown pass play.

Simmons completed scoring passes in the second half of 37 yards to Sienpon Ross and 41 yards to Kevin Lazard, who had caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Simmons in the first quarter.

Bellflower recovered a Pizula fumble at the Sunny Hills’ 39-yard line with just under 4 minutes remaining in the game. Three plays later, Choi stepped in front of Lazard and picked off Simmons’ pass.

Sunny Hills plays Valencia, a 42-6 winner over Los Amigos, next Friday in a quarterfinal game.