PREP EXTRA: SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Foothill’s Keep-Away Game Humbles Canyon

It’s tough to win when you don’t have the ball, Canyon found out Friday.

Canyon couldn’t pry the ball away from Foothill in the second half and lost, 28-10, in a Century League game at Tustin High. Foothill had two monster scoring drives in the second half, turning a close game into an easy victory.

Foothill won its second consecutive game, improved to 3-4, 2-0 in league play, and perhaps found a way to subdue future opponents.

The Knights went into the game determined to run a lot of counter plays and mix in a few well-timed passes from sophomore quarterback Tyler Lang.

That didn’t work so hot, so Coach Tom Meiss chucked that game plan at halftime and went to a power running game.

Canyon (5-2, 1-1) couldn’t handle the Knights’ offensive line or running backs Tramel Robinson, Jason DeAngelo and Nick Sveslosky.

Ahead, 14-10, to start the third quarter, Foothill held the ball 7 minutes 41 seconds with Robinson capping the 12-play drive with a 10-yard touchdown run.

After a Canyon drive stalled at the Foothill 45-yard line, the Knights held the ball for the next 8:12. Lang completed the 14-play drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to DeAngelo.

Ball game.

“We hadn’t planned a power offense,” Meiss said. “We never thought we’d be able to do it at the beginning of the year. But it’s been there when we needed it.

“A one-touchdown or three-point lead is insignificant. One big play and you can get your butt kicked.”

Better to keep running, shredding the opposition’s defense and keeping its high-powered offense off the field.

Canyon had the ball for only 16 plays, punts included, in the second half.

Quarterback Adam Hoover misfired on his only three passes of the second half and couldn’t improve on the 63 yards he had at halftime.

Greg Jacobs, his top receiver, finished with two receptions for 36 yards.

“I’m so proud of our defense,” Meiss said.

Tony Tuioti and Rubin Vaughn were particularly troublesome for Hoover, who constantly tried to avoid heavy pressure.

But the Foothill coaching staff might also want to consider honorary defensive status to the Knight backfield.

Lang ran the offense with polish, completing 7 of 10 passes for 139 yards. Robinson gained 57 yards in 12 carries, DeAngelo had 11 yards in 52 carries and Sveslosky added 46 yards in 10 carries.

Robinson also caught six passes for 120 yards, including a 67-yard catch and run for touchdown late in the first quarter. Lang looked and looked but couldn’t find an open receiver. Suddenly, Robinson popped free. The ball was on target and Robinson weaved his way through Canyon defenders to score.