PREP FOOTBALL : Sunset League : Henigan Wins Quarterback Duel in Fountain Valley’s 20-10 Victory

Westminster High School quarterback Bob Elliot’s aerial trickery caught Fountain Valley napping in the first quarter, but it wasn’t enough to offset the aerial acrobatics of David Henigan.

Henigan’s 276 yards passing led Fountain Valley past Westminster, 20-10, and into first place in the Sunset League Friday night in front of 1,000 at Huntington Beach. Fountain Valley is 6-2 overall and 3-0 in league. Westminster is 3-5, 2-1.

Westminster’s only touchdown was set up in the first quarter by Baron running back Kedric Powe’s fumble. Westminster took possession on its 44. Two plays later, Elliot went to the flea flicker--a handoff to running back Osavale Fiaseu, who pitched back to Elliot, who passed 47 yards to Al Togonon at the Baron 6-yard line.

He then found Van Tuinei in the end zone for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

“They went to the no-huddle on the first series, then they got that trick pass and beat us deep,” Baron Coach Mike Milner said. “We didn’t adjust well initially and they were able to get a quick one on us.”

Fountain Valley began its next drive from the 50 and advanced to the Westminster 8. The bulk of those yards came on a 35-yard pass from Henigan to Doug Weaver. Westminster dug in on defense and the Barons settled for a 29-yard field goal by Derek Mahoney.

Fountain Valley got into field-goal range in the second quarter after Powe rushed 24 yards from his 49 to the Lion 27. Henigan then threw to Eric Sassenberg for a 24-yard completion to the 3. Powe was stopped on successive runs. Henigan’s pass on third and goal was incomplete and the Barons took the 20-yard field goal.

In the second half, Henigan engineered a 16-play touchdown drive from his own 14. The series included an 11-yard pass to Mike Cook, a 23-yard toss to Rick Mock, a 20-yard throw to Weaver, a 7-yard pass to Powe on a fourth and 5 and an 8-yard toss to Cook for a touchdown.

Powe, who carried 23 times for 101 yards, carried 8 times for 28 yards in the drive.

Westminster started the fourth quarter trailing, 13-10. In his first series, Elliot unsuccessfully attempted a flea flicker and a 40-yard bomb. He completed a pass in the flat to Jim Slagle, who was supposed to pass upfield, but his knee touched the ground. The Lions were forced to punt.

Fountain Valley took over on its 18 and used eight plays to get the game’s final score, a 4-yard pass from Henigan to Powe. The biggest gain in the drive was a 48-yard reception by Weaver, which moved the ball from the Lion 41 to the 11.

Elliot completed 10 of 23 passes for 180 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Henigan entered the game as the county’s fifth-rated passer. He completed 15 of 25 for 276 yards for 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.

ORANGE COUNTY CAREER PASSING

Player Yrs Yds 1 Todd Marinovich 84-87 9,165 Mater Dei, Capistrano Valley 2 Shane Foley 84-85 5,264 Newport Harbor 3 Burt Call 81-83 4,956 Capistrano Valley 4 David Henigan 86-88 4,896 Fountain Valley 5 Mark Larson 73-75 4,815 Kennedy