PHOTOS: Sonora turns up the defensive pressure for key Freeway League victory over Troy

Sonora players and cheerleaders celebrate a 34-14 Freeway League victory over Troy. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone).

It’s fashionable now in football to award some gaudy bauble to defensive players who make big plays, and Sonora High is no exception.

The Raiders have a heavy faux gold chain with a Sonora “S” attached to it. It goes to players who have interceptions or recovery a fumble.

In eight games, the turnover chain had made 15 appearances.

That changed Friday night when it was displayed six times, on six different players, as the Raiders forced a half-dozen devastating takeaways on the way to a 34-14 victory over Troy at La Habra.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Sonora Coach Kevin Oberlander celebrates with his players after a 34-14 win over Troy.

Robert Hernandez (14), Alexsay Nazaroff (21), Luke Crowder (4), Mike Lozano (55), Renner Willard (13) and Brady Ackerman (6) all wore the Sonora Turnover Chain in Friday’s win over Troy.

Troy’s Vander Ploug loses his helmet when he is mobbed by Sonora defenders Renner Willard (13), Robert Hernandez (14) and Mike Lozano (55) after catching a first down pass.

Anthony Abad is congratulated by Mike Lozano (55) after scoring Sonora’s first touchdown Friday night.

Troy’s Ethan Mundt uses a block by Kyden Ordonez to tie score 7-7 early in the second quarter.

Sonora’s Steve Peru (11) and Olin Morales Hyder (1) break up a pass intended for a Troy receiver.

Troy’s Kyden Ordonez is upended by Sonora’s Robert Hernandez after short gain on a swing pass.

Sonora’s Nicholas Fernandez (15) is congratulated by Mike Lozano and Everett Hornung (71) after scoring the game’s final touchdown.

Sonora’s Mike Lozano (with ball) and Gabriel Bagdonoff celebrate Lozano’s recovery of a Troy fumble.

Troy’s Vander Ploug looks for down marker to see if pass reception gained enough yardage for a first down. It did.

Sonora Coach Kevin Oberlander watches final seconds tick down in a huge victory over Troy.

Troy Coach Michael Echaves studies a replay on a tablet.

Sonora quarterback Landon Martin, who ran the Raider offense effectively, celebrates win over Troy.

During a timeout late in the game, Coach Kevin Oberlander and quarterback Landon Martin discuss important third-down play. The play worked for a first down.

Tyler Robertson (with the ball) and Brady Ackerman (6) celebrate Robertson’s 49-yard touchdown reception on pass from Landon Martin.

Sonora’s Robert Hernandez gathers in a deflected pass intended for Troy’s Vander Ploug. Hernandez returned the interception 92 yards to the Troy 8.

Troy’s Derek Rubalcava makes a touchdown saving tackle of Sonora’s Tyler Robertson yards short of the end zone. Troy's defense held Raiders scoreless on this drive.

Those heroics came in a game with unusually great significance for two teams who were each undefeated in three league games and, the victor, was in a good position to dethrone perennial champion La Habra, thanks to Troy’s 27-21 upset of the Highlnders two weeks ago.

And the two teams were as well matched as one would expect for Friday’s battle for first.

Except … For six body blow turnovers.

Two of the Raiders’ four interceptions were returned for touchdowns, 43 yards by Renner Williard and 89 yards by Alexsay Nazaroff. A third, by Robert Hernandez was returned 92 yards to the Troy 8, blunting a promising Troy drive. One of the fumble recoveries, by Mike Lozano, ended another promising Troy drive inside the Sonora 20.

“The game of football at any level is very emotional,” Sonora Coach Kevin Overlander said. ”One of the things we really try to do is to stay emotionally confident but also stable. When you take the emotion out of it you’re able to focus on your individual job”

Sonora scored first on a 49-yard pass from Landon Martin to Tyler Robertson to lead 7-0 after one. Troy matched the score on a 5-yard run by Ethan Mundt.

Sonora’s leading rusher, Anthony Abad scored on a short run giving the Raiders the lead for good.

The loss was certainly devastating for Troy (5-4, 3-1), but made Friday’s game against Sunny Hills (4-5, 1-3) still important. A win would give the Warriors a share of the Freeway League title if La Habra beats Sonora.

The Sonora-La Habra game, which will be a Sonora home game at La Habra (the schools share the stadium), has massive implications. The last time Sonora (8-1, 4-0) beat La Habra (5-4, 3-1), was 2001 when Overlander was a senior in high school.

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—-Courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone