PREP EXTRA / ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL : Canyon Overcomes Slow Start, Beats Corona

ORANGE â€”  Canyon shook off a dismal first half with two touchdown runs by Kody Miller to beat Corona, 14-3, in the final nonleague game for both teams Friday night at El Modena High School.

Canyon (4-1) was unable to mount almost any offense in the first half as quarterback Craig Scott was intercepted three times, and Troy Mills, the team’s leader rusher, sat out with a groin injury. Mills returned in the second half.

Corona (2-3) also struggled offensively in the first half despite getting the three interceptions. Corona had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Rico Burrascano with 2 minutes 26 seconds left in the second quarter.

Canyon did have one strong drive just before halftime. The Comanches got to the Corona 18, but missed a 35-yard field goal.

“There was no miracle to tell them [at halftime],� Canyon Coach Bob Hughes said. “The defense hung in there and we knew the offense would come around.�

Miller proved to be the Comanches’ savior in the second half. He returned the second-half kickoff 23 yards to give Canyon the ball at its 43.

Scott and Justin Jackson hooked up on a 39-yard pass to set up a one-yard run by Miller with 7:51 left in the third quarter.

Canyon fell back into its offensive slump in the fourth quarter when Scott was intercepted for a fourth time, giving the Panthers the ball at their 40.

Corona, however, could not convert on fourth and 14 on the Canyon 25, and the Comanches took over with 6:54 left.

Canyon went on a 75-yard drive, highlighted by a 21-yard run by Jamel Robinson, and Miller ran in from 10 yards out with 1:44 left.

“Everything started clicking for us in the second half,� said Miller, who finished with 42 yards rushing and also caught four passes for 66 yards.