Fontana Barely Avoids an Upset : Prep football: No. 3-ranked team stops Canyon Springs’ two-point try in fourth quarter to win, 14-13.

Coach Jack Fogarty doesn’t believe in playing for ties, and neither do Moreno Valley Canyon Springs High players or fans. So when Canyon Springs lined up for a two-point conversion Friday after Terrelle Smith’s 10-yard touchdown run with 2 minutes 5 seconds to play, the Cougar faithful showed their support.

Canyon Springs, however, was stopped one yard from the end zone and Fontana, the Times’ No. 3-ranked team, escaped with a 14-13 victory before 5,000 at Valley View High in the season opener.

“There was no decision to make,” Fogarty said. “I don’t know when you go for a tie. . . . We don’t play for a tie.”

Fontana could have saved Fogarty from making any decisions if the Steelers had continued to run out the clock with their ball-control offense. But Art Gipson, who until then had a stellar night, fumbled at the Cougar 19-yard line. Adam Flores scooped up the loose ball and ran to the Fontana 10, where Gipson pulled him down from behind.

Smith scored one play later, forcing the decision to go for two. After Fontana was called for an encroachment penalty, Fogarty changed his mind--but not about whether to go for one point or two.

“We were going to run option, but when we moved a yard closer, we switched to power inside,” Fogarty said. “I know now what to do.”

Smith, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound fullback, was stopped straight up at the line of scrimmage by the Fontana defense.

While Fontana (1-0) tried out juniors Peter Guerrero and Ramon Villalvazo at quarterback, Gipson continued to give a starring performance.

Gipson scored the first touchdown on a six-yard run, and the deciding two-point conversion after Guerrero’s five-yard run gave the Steelers a 14-7 halftime lead. Gipson finished with 132 yards in 18 carries.

The Cougars scored their first touchdown four plays after recovering a Guerrero fumble at the Fontana 37. On fourth and five, Kevin Moykey took a pitchout and went 30 yards for the score. John Oliva, who was promoted from the junior varsity before the game, kicked the extra point to give the Cougars a 7-6 first quarter lead.

Gipson scored on a six-yard run to give the Steelers a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. Steve Silverthorn’s interception set up the four-play, 43-yard drive.