SUNSET LEAGUE : Second-Half Surge Leads Fountain Valley

Fountain Valley found its offense, which had been missing for two weeks, and consequently finds itself in first place in the Sunset League.

Quarterback Scott Bertoni threw two touchdown passes and ran for another and running back Jeremy Nicholson added 190 yards rushing as Fountain Valley cruised to a 26-7 victory over Santa Ana Thursday night in Santa Ana Stadium.

Fountain Valley (2-2, 1-0) scored only seven points in losses to Los Alamitos and Irvine the past two weeks, but a revived running game and some timely passing by Bertoni seemed to be the cure in the Barons’ league opener.

Bertoni led a second-half comeback with touchdown passes to Bryan Gail and Mark Ziemke that helped wipe out a 7-6 deficit. Bertoni completed 11 of 19 passes for 147 yards and mixed his passes to four receivers.

“We took some strides offensively tonight,” said Fountain Valley Coach George Berg. “Our running game has been waiting to come and our pass protection was very good. Our offensive line did an outstanding job opening the holes and then he did some things when he got open.”

Nicholson gained 126 yards in the second half as he repeatedly broke loose for big gainers against a Santa Ana defensive front that looked woefully out of shape.

Santa Ana (0-4, 0-1) was coming off an encouraging 14-10 loss to eighth-ranked Mater Dei last week that first-year Bob Hinman said his team should have won. But the Saints managed only one touchdown on an 18-yard sneak by quarterback Mark Fausto.

“They physically beat us up front on both sides of the line,” Hinman said. “We went into the locker room at halftime with a little momentum, but they took it to us in the second half.”

Santa Ana has averaged six points per game in four losses but the Saints had their moments offensively. The Saints had 164 yards rushing but slumped noticeably in the second half when they had just 47 yards.

It was all downhill for Santa Ana after the second play of the second half when Fausto fumbled and Fountain Valley’s Damien Peters recovered at the Saints’ 43-yard line. Three plays later, Bertoni threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Ziemke for a 12-7 lead and suddenly Fountain Valley’s offense woes were cured.