PREP FOOTBALL : Foothill Falters in First Half, Rallies in Second to Win, 17-7

For the second week in a row Foothill High Schol finished the first half not knowing what was wrong with its offense.

After being held to only two first downs in the first half, the Knights (3-0) controlled the ball in the second half to defeat Marina (0-3), 17-7, Friday night on Northrup Field.

Senior tailback John Fischbeck, who recorded his third consecutive 100-yard game, scored on a four-yard run after Chris Fergus threw 65 yards to Steve Koehl on the Knights’ second play.

“Fergus is someone we can really rely on,” Foothill coach Ted Mullen said of his senior quarterback. “We have to throw in order to loosen the defense up.”

Marina found itself back in the game when Brian Sterzer caught a seven-yard pass from Rick Vanderreit after the Vikings marched 83 yards in 9 plays to tie the score, 7-7.

Late in the third quarter, Foothill found itself inside their one-yard line after a Vanderreit punt. But Fergus again started to drive the Knights.

On third and nine at the two-yard line, Fergus ran for 11 yards to keep Foothill from punting from their end zone.

Following a 38-yard run by Fischbeck, Fergus found Eric Merker open down the left side for a 26-yard touchdown pass to give the Knights a 14-7 lead.

Marina’s offense never gained a first down in the second half. Vanderreit (9 of 16 for 102 yards in the first half) only completed 3 of 11 passes for 9 yards and 1 interception in the second half.

After a short punt and four Fischbeck runs, Scott Ball put the game out of reach with 1:53 left in the game with a 22-yard field goal.

“It’s nice to know you can still win a game after making so many mistakes,” Mullen said. “I can’t wait until we put together two good halves of football.”

Foothill may need to next week as they face crosstown rival Tustin (2-1).