ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL / PREP EXTRA : Mills’ Fourth-Quarter Score Leads Canyon Past Foothill

The Canyon defense held Foothill’s leading rusher, Tramel Robinson, to 51 yards and the Canyon offense sprung running back Troy Mills for 117 yards and a touchdown as the Comanches defeated Foothill, 12-7, in a Century League opener Friday at El Modena.

The loss is the first in league for the Knights (3-3, 0-1) in two seasons. Canyon is 5-1, 1-0.

Mills, whose status was questionable early in the week with a groin pull, scored the winning touchdown on a one-yard plunge with 3 minutes 18 seconds remaining in the game.

“There was never any doubt in my mind whether I was going to play,” Mills said. “It’s the first time in my three years that we’ve beaten Foothill. This is the happiest day of my life.”

After Mills’ touchdown, Foothill drove into Comanche territory, but Canyon’s Kody Miller intercepted a pass from Foothill quarterback Tyler Lang with 1:23 left to seal the victory.

“Our defense stuffed them the whole game,” said Miller, who made three tackles for losses. “We’ve never taken first place in league. Maybe now we can do that.”

Canyon’s Scott Walker made field goals of 42 and 34 yards in the first half.

Foothill scored in the second quarter on a seven-yard run by Nick Sveslosky.

The only other sustained drive for the Knights came just before the end of the half when they reached the Canyon 15-yard line. But Mills intercepted a Lang pass to thwart the threat. Lang completed 14 of 24 passes for 139 yards.