PREP EXTRA: SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Footman Carries the Load for Esperanza

Esperanza senior tailback Dahrin Footman carried the Aztecs to a 21-7 Sunset League victory over Huntington Beach Friday night at Valencia High.

Footman carried 29 times for 277 yards, scoring all three Aztec touchdowns.

Esperanza remained unbeaten in league play heading into next Thursday’s showdown with undefeated league-rival Los Alamitos.

Footman scored his first touchdown on a two-yard run 51 seconds into the second quarter. On the next series, he leaped over the Oiler defense for a one-yard score with 3 minutes 37 seconds remaining in the first half.

Huntington Beach senior quarterback Jason Bartusick cut the Aztec lead with 22 seconds left in the half, as he scrambled through the Esperanza defense for a nine-yard touchdown run.

Footman gave the Aztecs insurance midway through the third quarter, when he rushed for 52 yards and his third touchdown.

The Esperanza defense held Huntington Beach to 133 yards total offense, only nine yards on the ground.

Bartusick was sacked six times, the last a combined effort by Jeremy Viscusi and Sean Garney with 2:41 remaining in the game. The Aztecs took over and didn’t relinquish the ball again.

Esperanza totaled 418 yards in offense. Quarterback Chris Stretch completed nine of 14 passes for 155 yards. Junior tight end Brian Forth had six catches for 141 yards.

Bartusick completed 15 of 27 passes for 124 yards. David VanHoorebeke had five catches for 66 yards.