PHOTOS: Mahood answers the call in Sunny Hills 41-12 opening night win over Canyon

Sunny Hills running back David Mahood scores the third of his four touchdowns Friday night. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone)

It was what you want at a high school football game … the band was on the field to play the National Anthem, the players ran past cheering cheerleaders, the game captains shook hands after the coin toss, the stands were filled with excited students and parents and the concession stand was open.

More importantly, the featured back in Sunny Hills’ double wing offense was carrying the ball often and scoring touchdowns with a satisfactory frequency.

But there was a difference. This time that featured back wasn’t a bullish runner like Jun Ahn (2018, 247 carries, 1,448 yards, 17 TDs) or, more recently, Vince Silva, now at Southern Oregon University (81-845-9 in the 6-game spring season). 

This time the 3-back was 175-pound David Mahood who scored four touchdowns as the Lancers opened their season with a 41-12 win over Canyon of Anaheim at Buena Park High School.

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When the six-game spring season ended Sunny Hills knew Mahood, who played defense in the spring, would be an integral part of this team, just not at the 3-back. 

But things happen in high school football and adjustments had to be made, one of which was moving Mahood to No. 3.

It was a decision the coaches were comfortable with.

“We felt he was our most dynamic player, that he could do a good job and he proved it tonight. He’s different than Jun and Vince, he’s more of a slasher,” said Sunny Hills Coach Pete Karavedes. “He got us a lot of tough yards.”

Mahood scored on a 6-yard run in the first quarter, a 3-yard run in the second period, a 15-yarder in the third and a 1-yard plunge in the fourth, a score he set up with a 50-yard run.

“It felt great,”Mahood said of his game. “I feel I can run that position.”

The outcome was a little misleading. Canyon sophomore quarterback Corin Rynders (6-3, 170) was effective enough in the Comanches’ quick pass offense to keep the Sunny Hills’ defense in a stressful frame of mind through much of the first half.

Rynders’ nice 10-yard pass to Darren Welker got Canyon within one at the end of the first quarter and Rynders’ team was still within eight (14-6) with two minutes remaining in the half.

Then things changed quickly. With 1:40 remaining and Sunny Hills facing a 3^rd-and-7 at midfield, Lancer quarterback Max Spero and tight end Ethan Johnson teamed up on a 52-yard strike that a Canyon defender just missed deflecting, for a 21-6 lead.

 Canyon had the ball for three plays before Rynders’ quick kick hit a lineman in the back and Sunny Hills had the ball and a short field with a minute remaining.

Lancer running back Troy Mills had a nice run to set up a 7-yard pass to Dylan Lawson for a score 18 seconds before intermission to give Sunny Hills a 27-6 lead.

Mahood scored TDs in the third and fourth quarters before Canyon’s Fox Haugen made a tremendous effort to touch the end zone pylon with the football on a 7-yard pass from Rynders for a score with 6 seconds remaining on a running clock.

On Friday, Sunny Hills is at Capistrano Valley while Canyon hosts Irvine.

Click here for earlier game story.

—Courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone