ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL / PREP EXTRA : Foothill Ends Three-Game Losing Skid : Century League: The Knights beat Santa Ana Valley, 28-20, to stay in league race.

TUSTIN — Foothill High football Coach Tom Meiss describes the Century League race as “interesting” this year.

Foothill, the two-time defending league champion, made the title race interesting by beating Santa Ana Valley, 28-20, Friday night at Tustin High.

The Knights came in against the Falcons in an unfamiliar role--as a slight underdog.

Foothill had lost its last three games, including its first league loss in three seasons last week against Canyon.

But the Knights (4-3, 1-1 in league) put together a strong passing game and made defensive plays when they were needed most.

Foothill quarterback Tyler Lang was only six of 14 for 129 yards passing, but he threw two touchdowns in the second half.

A 58-yard pass to Nick Sveslosky on the Knights’ first possession of the second half answered Santa Ana Valley quarterback Ricky Chavez’s 47-yard touchdown pass to Jason Parrott to tie the game, 14-14.

The Falcons (5-2, 1-1) came back on a Chavez to Beau Wallace 40-yard touchdown pass.. The extra-point attempt was failed, giving Santa Ana Valley a 20-14 lead with 3 minutes, 31 seconds left in the third quarter.

Lang then hooked up with Matt Bower on a 31-yard touchdown. Cody Clemmons’ extra-point kick gave Foothill the lead for good.

Santa Ana Valley drove the field on its final possession, but Matt Hall batted away a Chavez pass on a fourth and six from the Knights’ six to preserve the win.

“This was a great win,” Bower said. “We needed to win this game after losing to Canyon last week. Everyone has a chance in league now.”

Running back Tramel Robinson scored Foothill’s other two touchdowns on a pair of four-yard runs. He finished with 77 yards in 16 carries.