League champion Western brings home the bell again and gears up for CIF playoffs

Western players and coaches celebrate after winning the Bell Game Friday night. (Photos courtesy Western High School Jeff Kihara, Alex Huertero, Ariadne Mata and Noemi Calderon).

Western High School’s football team wrapped up Orange League play defeating Anaheim 54-0 Friday night to capture the Battle for the Bell Trophy.

Coach Dan Davidson’s Pioneers (9-1 overall) will now prepare for the CIF playoffs next week after winning the league title for the sixth year in a row.

“Last night was the 60th contest between Western and Anaheim in their Battle For The Bell,” Davidson said. “They have played this city rivalry since 1959 when the railroad tracks separated which school the students from Anaheim would attend.”

To see the photos, click on the first photo:

Western's football team brought home the bell again.

Western's Joshua Faulkner warms up before the game.

Hamza Masadeh takes some pre-game kicks for the Pioneers.

Western quarterback Anthony Luna gets ready for the game.

Kenny James of Western prepares for Friday's game.

Desmin Joshway-Fairley goes up to make a catch for Western.

Western has won 10 in a row and has a 33-26-1 record vs. Anaheim.

Western was led by quarterback Anthony Luna, who completed 16 of 21 passes for 302 yards and six touchdowns. Desmin Joshway-Fairley had six catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns, Joshua Faulkner had three catches for 44 yards and two touchdowns and six rushes for 66 yards and a touchdown.

Malachi Alatorre had three rushes for 89 yards and a catch for an additional 26 yards and seven tackles on defense.

The defense was led by the line, Davidson said.

Dane Torrence and Dominic Hadrous each had seven tackles with three tackles for a loss and a sack, Kainoa Valles Blackwell, Joel Perez and Vincent Lopez each recorded five plus tackles and each recorded a sack and Sam Amaya and Clayton Corbett had seven tackles each.

“Western will be awaiting Sunday’s CIF draw where it appears to be playing somewhere in Division 5,” Davidson said.