ORANGE COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL : Foothill Coach’s Debut Ruined by Capo Valley

Welcome to Orange County high school football, Jerry Howell.

Howell, who made his debut as Foothill’s coach Friday night, received a harsh initiation from visitor Todd Marinovich and the Capistrano Valley Cougars, who crushed the Knights, 31-0.

Marinovich brought back some of the bad memories left from Howell’s coaching stint at Eastern Oregon State, perhaps looking better than any of the college quarterbacks Howell faced in the great Northwest.

Opening his senior year where he left off last season, Marinovich completed 14 of 27 passes for 166 yards and 4 touchdowns, continuing his bid to break both the Southern Section career passing record and the national high school career mark.

Marinovich now has passed for 6,883 yards and 60 touchdowns.

Howell--trying to find a new start at Foothill after three winless (except for one forfeit) years as coach of Eastern Oregon State--had hoped Foothill’s defense would counterbalance Capistrano Valley’s potent offense.

But the Knights’ defense only got to Marinovich once, sacking him for a loss of eight yards in the second quarter. It didn’t phase Marinovich, who regained his composure to pass for his second touchdown of the night.

Before the game, Cougar Coach Dick Enright had been worried about his inexperienced offensive line and its ability to protect the team’s star.

But after the easy victory, Enright gushed about the performances of such players as Robert Judikinas, Brad Haywood, Brandon Stephenson and Todd Plewe.

“The big question going in was our offensive line,” Enright said, “but I can’t say enough about them. I have a good feeling about them. They’re smart and hard working and fighters.”

Marinovich was also pleased with the protection he got.

“It’s the best protection I’ve had,” he said. “I could throw all day.”

Not to be overlooked, Capistrano Valley also showed it could run the ball. Senior Tommy Adams carried 16 times for 90 yards.

Howell, who inherited the position that Ted Mullen left behind, didn’t unveil many surprises in his offense. Foothill didn’t attempt a pass in the first half, relying on junior running back John Mountain. Mountain, who broke away for 36 yards on his first carry, finished with 97 yards. Howell allowed junior quarterback Tom Hawkins to air it out a little in the third quarter. Hawkins completed 4 of 12 passes for 45 yards.

Foothill fans weren’t the only members of the crowd of about 2,500 at Tustin High School’s Northrup Stadium who were frustrated. Together, the two teams were assessed close to 200 yards in penalties.