Orange County High School Football PREP EXTRA : Ponchak Bails Out the Barons

Chris Ponchak, ace relief pitcher on the Fountain Valley baseball team, is still getting used to his new starting role--for the Baron football team.

But as you might expect from someone who is accustomed to bailing out his team, Ponchak came through late Friday, leading Fountain Valley to a 14-13 victory over Lakewood in a nonleague game at Huntington Beach High.

Ponchak, a senior who was the Barons’ starting quarterback as a sophomore but took last season off, looked rusty for much of Friday’s game. He misfired on his first 10 passes and later had a streak of eight incomplete passes.

“It’s his first year back playing football,” Fountain Valley Coach George Berg said. “He’s just learning some things.”

However, he was effective when the Barons (1-1) needed it, completing two touchdown passes to Michael Rumford on long-yardage, late-down situations.

The second touchdown pass, 18-yards to Rumford, came on third-and-13 with 9 minutes 4 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The extra-point kick gave Fountain Valley a 14-13 lead.

On its next possession, Lakewood (0-2) drove into Baron territory but was hit by an unsportsmanlike penalty that killed the drive. After a punt, Fountain Valley ran out the clock.

Ponchak’s first touchdown came late in the first half when Ponchak maneuvered out of a third-and-32. He completed a 20-yard pass to Rumford, setting up fourth-and-12 at the 16. On the next play, Ponchak hit Rumford with a perfectly placed pass on a post pattern over the middle.

The touchdown tied the score, 7-7, with 2:23 left in the half.

Ponchak completed eight of 28 passes with no interceptions. Rumford caught four passes for 80 yards.