ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL / PREP EXTRA : DIVISION I : Vanis Scores Four Touchdowns as Loyola Beats Fountain Valley

Mike Vanis walked off the field for good with five minutes left. He still looked fresh. Fountain Valley didn’t.

Vanis, Los Angeles Loyola’s slashing running back, had ended the Barons’ season the way it began--with a loss to the Cubs. Only this time it wasn’t close.

Loyola’s 38-22 victory Friday was the result of Vanis’ now-you-see-me, now-you-don’t running style. He zig-zagged for 152 yards and scored four touchdowns to advance the Cubs to the second round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs against Fontana.

“I’ve been playing with Mike since we were freshmen, so I’m used to seeing this in games,” offensive tackle Glenn Rudy said. “But then I see it on the game film and I’m in awe.”

The Barons (7-4) might not have been in awe, but they were certainly stunned.

This was the same Loyola team that Fountain Valley nearly had beaten to open the season. The Barons blew a one-point lead in the second half and lost, 24-21.

“The difference was experience,” Vanis said. “We were a young team back then. Our line has improved.”

That was evident. Loyola gained 267 yards rushing.

Even though the Cubs (9-2) had only a 17-14 halftime lead, they still seemed to have matters in hand. They buried the Barons in the second half.

Vanis was the reason.

He returned the second half kickoff 39 yards, then capped the 51-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. On the Cubs’ next possession, Vanis burst off tackle, ducked under one would-be tackler and dodged two more for a 44-yard touchdown run.

“The guys tease me about the way I run,” Vanis said. “They tell me to try running over someone sometime.”

While Vanis was tap dancing around defenders, fullback Matt Stoll was doing the dirty work. He gained 95 yards in 13 carries.

“We knew we could move the ball in the second half,” Vanis said. “We were in control and we knew it.”

It just didn’t show.

Vanis rushed for 60 yards and Stoll 53 in the first half, but the Cubs let the Barons off the hook.

Loyola led 10-0 less than five minutes into the game, but an interception by Josh Nimmo got the Barons started.

Fountain Valley quarterback Mitch Ryerson scrambled right, then left, then spotted wide receiver Kevin McCluskey, who had slipped behind the Loyola secondary The play went for 53 yards and a touchdown.