PREP EXTRA / SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Fountain Valley Runs Past Santa Margarita, 29-17

Any rushing yardage at all would have been an improvement for Fountain Valley’s offense Friday night, especially after the Barons were held to minus-1 yard on the ground last week against Servite.

But the Barons went above and beyond mere improvement Friday night against Santa Margarita.

The Barons rushed for 211 yards and two touchdowns in a 29-17 nonleague victory over Santa Margarita at Orange Coast College. Quarterback Chris Ponchak ran for 103 yards and running back Matt Harrison chipped in with a strong second half for the Barons.

The dominance on the ground was a quantum leap for Fountain Valley, considering it ended up in negative rushing figures in a 23-7 loss to Servite on Sept. 30. But against Santa Margarita, the Barons broke open a close game in the second half with a solid ground attack.

Fountain Valley (2-3) led at halftime, 7-5, and moved 75 yards in 15 plays for a touchdown to start the second half. They gained 54 yards in 11 rushes on the drive, including 20 yards by Harrison. Ponchak finished the drive with a four-yard touchdown pass to Michael Rumford.

The Barons increased the lead to 22-5 with 11:30 left in the game when Ponchak scored his second touchdown, scoring from the one. The touchdown was set up by James Melad’s blocked punt, which gave Fountain Valley the ball at the Santa Margarita 14.

Harrison, who finished with 61 yards in six second-half carries, closed out the victory with an eight-yard touchdown reception with 1:46 to play.