PREP FOOTBALL : Capistrano Valley Rallies Past Canyon, 28-14

For the second time in as many weeks, Capistrano Valley High School found itself in a familiar position Friday night.

A losing position.

It was time to start another rally. And after falling two points short in their opener against Foothill, the Cougars finally got this comeback business down pat, scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter for a 28-14 nonleague victory over Canyon at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange.

Capistrano Valley (1-1) began the fourth quarter trailing, 14-7. The Comanches had applied tremendous pressure on Cougar quarterback Todd Marinovich, sacking him 5 times for 34 yards and intercepting him twice, including one return for the go-ahead touchdown.

What turned it around for Capistrano Valley was a scoring interception return of its own.

With 10:55 remaining, defensive back Marcel Durand put the Cougars ahead, 21-14, when he intercepted Matt Waddell and ran it back 42 yards for a touchdown.

Another element in the Capistrano Valley comeback was Marinovich. After throwing two interceptions in the first half, Marinovich completed 7 of 10 passes for 116 yards in the second half.

The junior transfer from Mater Dei hasn’t exactly had an easy time at his new school. In his Cougar debut against Foothill, he broke a bone on the tip of his left thumb in the first quarter.

Canyon (1-1) wasn’t easy fodder, either. On the game’s first play from scrimmage, Marinovich was sacked. He led the Cougars to Canyon’s two-yard line, but two penalties and a dropped pass in the end zone ruined any scoring chances.

Marinovich, who was 15 of 27 for 260 yards, threw his only touchdown during the Cougars’ next possession. Canyon had fumbled on its 20 and Capistrano Valley scored five plays later on a 16-yard pass from Marinovich to Randy Stark.

The Comanches took a 14-7 halftime lead on Waddell’s 30-yard touchdown pass and Todd Davis’ 26-yard interception return.

Ten seconds into the fourth quarter, Tom Adams tied the score with a seven-yard run. Then, a minute later, Durand put the Cougars ahead for good.