PREP FOOTBALL : Century League : Fergus, Mountain Lead Foothill, 26-15

Foothill High School played Thursday night’s Century League opener against Canyon without its leading running back, John Fischbeck, who was knocked out of last week’s game against Westminster in the third period.

But the Knights’ offense still had plenty of punch, despite the loss of Fischbeck, whose knee injury forced him to watch the game.

Foothill, behind the play of quarterback Chris Fergus and tailback John Mountain, rolled up 323 yards in total offense on its way to a 26-15 victory over the Comanches in front of 3,500 in El Modena’s Fred Kelly Stadium.

Fergus threw only eight passes but completed 5 of them for 166 yards and 2 touchdowns. The senior teamed with Eric Merker on a 70-yard touchdown pass play in the first quarter and threw 50 yards to Steve Koehl for a touchdown on the last play of the first half.

He also ran for a touchdown before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a minor ankle injury. Mountain, a sophomore making his first varsity start, rushed for 89 yards in 22 carries, and Mike Horton added 49 yards in 6 carries.

The only thing that slowed Foothill’s offense was the Knights themselves. They fumbled six times, with Canyon recovering four of the fumbles, including one for a touchdown in the third quarter.

“This is a funny team,” said Foothill Coach Ted Mullen, who wasn’t laughing. “We moved the ball well but took it away from ourselves. We can’t be giving the ball away. If you do that in the playoffs, teams will crucify you.”

Foothill (4-2) had a comfortable 23-0 halftime lead, thanks to Fergus’ two long touchdown passes, his one-yard touchdown run and a defense that allowed the Comanches just 54 yards in total offense during the first half.

But the Comanches (2-4) finally threatened in the third period when quarterback Matt Waddell raced five yards around the right side and soared into the end zone over Knight defender Brett Bloom to culminate a 54-yard drive.

After the ensuing kickoff, Koehl fumbled a handoff and Canyon linebacker Todd Davis scooped up the ball and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown. Waddell passed to Ray Shull for the two-point conversion, and, suddenly, the score was 23-15.

But the Knights rebounded in the fourth quarter, driving from their 28-yard line to the Canyon 12. Scott Ball kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it 26-15. Canyon drove 56 yards to the Foothill 17 on its next possession, but Dareld Karns managed only one yard on a fourth-and-seven play.

Bloom intercepted Waddell to stop Canyon’s final drive. The interception ended a frustrating night for the Canyon quarterback, who completed just 9 of 28 passes for 85 yards with 2 interceptions.