Boys’ Athlete of the Week : Once Again, Henigan is Right Man in the Right Spot

El Toro High School appeared to have a football victory locked up Saturday night. The Chargers had a 31-28 lead over Fountain Valley, Orange County’s top-ranked team, with only 1 minute 9 seconds left.

Enter David Henigan.

That was all the time he needed. Henigan, the Barons’ quarterback, even had 2 seconds to spare.

Henigan, The Times’ athlete of the week, took the Barons 70 yards in 1:07 and capped the drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Eric Sassenberg.

Fountain Valley won, 35-31.

“It was a frantic drive,” said Henigan, who completed 20 of 31 passes for 290 yards and 2 touchdowns. “But before we went on the field, I had a feeling we’d pull it out.”

Possibly because it had happened before to Henigan, although under different circumstances.

In 1987, the Barons had 16 starters returning and some great expectations. But Fountain Valley lost its first 4 games and was on the verge of losing for the fifth time in 6 games.

With less than 2 minutes left, Huntington Beach held a 27-24 lead in a key Sunset League game.

Enter Henigan.

The Barons drove 65 yards for the winning touchdown--a 20-yard pass from Henigan to Mike Osborne.

“That drive turned everything around for us,” Henigan said. “From that point, the offense started clicking.”

Fountain Valley went on to win 7 of its last 8 games, losing only to Fontana in the Big Five Conference final.

“At that point (before playing Huntington Beach), we weren’t sure how good a team we were,” Fountain Valley Coach Mike Milner said. “As a result of that drive, the kids realized they were a pretty good football team.”

Losing in the championship game left Henigan with something to prove. He lifted weights during the off-season to improve his arm strength. He can now throw deeper and with more velocity.

The work has paid off. The Barons, who were ranked No. 2 in the Orange County Sportswriters’ Assn. poll entering the season, beat No. 1 Mater Dei, 22-17, to take the top spot. They stayed No. 1 by beating El Toro.

“After we won, the Huntington Beach game came to mind,” Henigan said. “It’s ironic that we have just 7 starters back this season and are 2-0 after having so much experience last year and going 0-4.

“It taught me not to expect too much. In the back of our minds, we have to remember not to get too confident. We still have to prove ourselves on the field.”

So far, Mater Dei and El Toro are believers.

TOP PERFORMERS

Derek Brown of Servite rushed for 221 yards in 17 carries in the Friars’ 46-0 victory over Marina Friday. Brown scored 3 touchdowns.

Eddie Lavelle of Corona del Mar set a cross-country meet record at the Laguna Hills Invitational Saturday. Lavelle finished the 3-mile course in 14:48, breaking the record of 14:58 set by Mark Davis of San Diego in 1986.

Jason Neben of Orange Lutheran rushed for 163 yards and passed for 105, as the Lancers rallied in the fourth quarter Friday to beat Aquinas, 15-11. Neben passed for a touchdown and ran for the game-winner with less than 2 minutes left.

Fred Schweer of Woodbridge passed for 164 yards and 2 touchdowns Friday in the Warriors’ 23-0 victory over Foothill. Schweer completed 12 of his last 16 passes (14 of 29 for the game).

David Henigan

Fountain Valley High

Position: Quarterback

Height, Weight, Class: 6-1, 185, Senior.

Last Week: Henigan completed 20 of 31 passes for 290 yards and 2 touchdowns. He led the Barons 70 yards in the final minute for the winning touchdown, as Fountain Valley beat El Toro, 35-31.

Season: Henigan is 33 of 50 for 444 yards and 4 touchdowns.