Dana Hills’ Rushing Proves Too Much for Millikan

Don Douglass, Dana Hills’ football coach, had yet to see the potential of his trio of running backs this season--until Friday night.

Tailback Shaun Coleman scored three touchdowns, all on short runs, and the Dolphins’ defense shut down Long Beach Millikan in a 35-6 victory at Millikan.

The Dolphins (2-0-1) had 318 yards rushing. Tailback Marcus Jenkins had 143 yards in 15 carries, fullback Marcelle Franklin 86 yards in 11 carries and Coleman added 31 yards in five carries.

“We finally blocked tonight,” Douglass said. “If we block a little bit, we have some guys who can shine.”

Jenkins did, scoring on a 30-yard run in the third quarter. In the same period, Franklin caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Albie Sukut.

While Dana Hills’ running backs ran wild, Millikan struggled offensively. The Rams (1-2) had 197 yards total offense, only 77 yards rushing.

Dana Hills capitalized on four Millikan turnovers--two interceptions by Jenkins and two fumble recoveries--to build a 22-6 halftime lead. Millikan had six turnovers in the game, including four fumbles.

“We got some breaks,” Douglass said. “It wasn’t like we were all wonderful and ran all over them.

“But we got our confidence back with this game (after a 7-7 tie with Trabuco Hills last week). That’s what we needed.”

On its second possession of the game, Dana Hills drove 52 yards in seven plays, capped by a four-yard touchdown run by Coleman with 4 minutes 18 seconds left in the first quarter. John Ashley’s extra-point kick failed.

On the next possession, Jenkins intercepted a Scott Allen pass at the Millikan 26-yard line, and Coleman scored on a six-yard run four plays later to give Dana Hills a 12-0 lead.

The Dolphins pushed the lead to 15-0 when Ashley booted a 37-yard field goal with 10:59 left in the second quarter.

Dana Hills safety Chris Dawes recovered a fumble by Dion Tyler at the Millikan 20 to set up the field goal. Dawes also had an interception in the fourth quarter.

Dana Hills’ last touchdown of the half--a three-yard run by Coleman--came after a fumble by Allen was recovered by the Dolphins’ Bill Hollister at the Millikan eight.