PREP FOOTBALL : For Foothill, Second Half Is Enough

Foothill High School showed it is a team of character as it came from behind to defeat Riverside Poly, 25-19, Friday at Northrup Field.

The Knights (2-0) spotted the Bears 19 first-half points only to score 25 of their own in the second half.

John Fishbeck led Foothill’s attack, scoring 3 touchdowns and rushing for 107 yards in 20 carries. The senior running back scored on runs of 28, 4 and 2 yards. He put the Knights ahead to stay with 9:07 to play in the game, scoring off right tackle from the two-yard line.

“Fishbeck’s a great runner and when you give him a hole, he’s through it,” Foothill Coach Ted Mullen said. “Tonight he showed that.”

Riverside Poly (1-1), Citrus Belt champions for six of the last seven years, took the lead in the second quarter. Quarterback Phillip Moore connected with John Ramirez, who was wide open in the end zone, for a 12-yard score and a 6-0 lead.

Later, Bear running back Kenny White, who rushed for 61 on 9 carries, scored from nine yards out. The Bears would score their last touchdown of the night when Chris Nix returned a blocked punt 24 yards for a 19-0 halftime lead.

Foothill, the fifth-ranked team in Orange County, shut down the Bear attack in the second half. With 2:09 remaining, Joiy Bennett recovered a Riverside Poly fumble at the Foothill 28 to preserve the victory.

“We let them back into the ballgame,” Riverside Poly Coach Mike Churchill said. “Foothill is a good ball club, and we gave them the chance to show it tonight.”

Foothill finished the scoring with Scott Ball hitting a 32-yard field goal with 7:20 remaining.