PREP FOOTBALL : Century League Football : Foothill Wins, Stays in Playoff Race

Foothill High School has seemingly always had hard-nosed football teams. The kind that would batter the opposition with a bruising defense and a solid, if unspectacular, offense.

But something was missing in many of the Knights’ games this season. The offense just wasn’t able to produce enough points to win.

It all came together for Foothill Friday in a 14-3 Century League victory over Santa Ana Valley in front of 2,500 at Tustin High. It was game the Knights needed to win in order to remain in contention for a playoff berth.

Foothill (5-4, 3-1 in league play) moved a step closer to a berth as did El Modena (4-5, 3-1), a 17-7 winner over Villa Park. Foothill and El Modena are tied for second behind Santa Ana. The loss drops Santa Ana Valley to 3-5-1, 2-2.

“We’re going to win next week and get second place,” said Jerry Howell, Foothill’s coach.

Foothill ends the regular season by hosting El Modena next Friday night, a game that will decide second and third place.

A big game from running back Brian Chodowski and a goal-line stand near the end of the half helped Foothill win and set up the showdown with its longtime rival.

Chodowski gained 133 yards in 26 carries to bolster the Knights’ offense.

After spotting the Falcons a 3-0 lead on a 20-yard field goal by Manop Phinovwong, quarterback Chad Ressler threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Tom Hawkins.

Two series later, the Knights’ defense let Santa Ana Valley drive to the 2. But on successive plays, Foothill stopped Falcon running back Jesse Lynch for no gain and then a 1-yard loss.

Phinovwong came on to try a 19-yard field goal, but before he could kick, the Falcons were called for delay of game.

He never got to try a 25-yard attempt as the snap sailed over his holder’s head. He scrambled back to pick up the ball near the 40, but his desperation pass fell incomplete.

“That goal-line stand was the best I’ve ever seen in high school football,” Howell said.

After that, Foothill’s defense got tougher.

Santa Ana Valley drove into Foothill territory only once in the second half. The Knights limited Lynch to 35 yards in 14 carries. Jesse Brooks, the Falcons’ other back, got just 14 yards in 11 carries. Quarterback Gary Graves, a sophomore, completed 6 of 10 passes for 82 yards. And that was about all of the offense Santa Ana Valley could scratch out.

Foothill added a 1-yard run by slotback Scott Barton with 1:24 left in the third quarter for an insurance touchdown. Barton gained 39 yards in 10 carries.

The Knights passed just 4 times. As Howell said, “We’re a grind it out football team.”