Fountain Valley Stops Dana Hills Twice in Fourth Quarter to Preserve Tie

Although the scoreboard showed otherwise, Fountain Valley High School Coach George Berg said his team’s 6-6 tie with Dana Hills Thursday night on Huntington Beach’s Sheue Field felt like a victory.

Fountain Valley, which has won only three games the past two years, stopped Dana Hills twice inside its 30-yard line in the fourth quarter to salvage a tie that only a first-year coach such as Berg could savor.

It was a typical opening game, with countless penalties, turnovers and enough mistakes to fill a season. But Berg, a 19-year assistant who finally has gained the spotlight at Fountain Valley, was all smiles afterward.

“We may not have won, but we did establish that we can play football for four quarters,” Berg said. “It was one of those ‘first games’ for both of us, but I’m proud that 35 players still thought football was important at Fountain Valley High School.”

It has been hard times at Fountain Valley lately. The Barons went nine weeks without a victory last year, including opening the season with a 27-6 loss to Dana Hills. It looked as if it was going to be a long night for the Barons when Dana Hills drove 76 yards for a touchdown on its first possession.

Tailback Marcus Jenkins, who led all rushers with 90 yards in 17 carries, scored Dana Hills’ only touchdown on a seven-yard run midway through the first quarter. The Dolphins continued to roll up some impressive numbers offensively the remainder of the game, but failed to score.

“We did everything but win the ballgame,” said Don Douglass, Dana Hills coach. “We never got untracked after the first possession. This game was an exercise in futility.”

Dana Hills’ height of frustration came in the final four minutes. First, fullback Nick Nosek fumbled on a counter play on Fountain Valley’s 11-yard line with 4 minutes 7 seconds remaining. Fountain Valley’ Mike Gillis recovered.

“Naturally, he’s our most sure-handed ballcarrier,” Douglass said.

On its next possession, Dana Hills sophomore quarterback Scott Covington threw a pass that was intercepted by Fountain Valley’s Pete Reynolds at the Barons’ 30-yard line that ended any chance of a Dana Hills victory.