Foothill’s Roll Toward the Playoffs Continues

After missing the playoffs by a touchdown last season, Foothill seems intent on leaving nothing to chance this season.

El Modena was the latest victim of that determination Thursday, when Foothill won a Century League game, 47-14, at El Modena High.

The Knights (6-2, 3-0 in league) have defeated their last five opponents, including the Vanguards, by an average margin of almost 30 points.

“I know we have the smallest line in the county and I think the coaches have really done a good job preparing them,” Foothill Coach Tom Meiss said.

The Knights may be small, but they are astonishingly quick. Their flashiest weapons are tailback Franklin Haynes, who finished with 129 yards in 16 carries, and receivers Chad Concalino, Lawrence Mariner and Matthew Hall, who each had one breakaway pass-play for a touchdown.

“As they say, speed kills,” Meiss said.

So does accuracy, and Foothill quarterback Tyler Lang was precise enough, completing 11 of 18 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns.

Resting comfortably on a 28-6 halftime lead, Foothill seemed to fall asleep at the start of the second half and El Modena (2-6, 1-2) threatened to crawl back into the game.

Haynes fumbled at the El Modena 40-yard line and Pat Salceda returned it 60 yards for a Vanguard touchdown. Charlie Williams ran in the two-point conversion to bring the Vanguards to within two touchdowns, 28-14, with 10 minutes 58 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

“Most people don’t understand that a two-touchdown lead can evaporate rather rapidly,” Meiss said.

Apparently, Meiss explained this to his players because they woke up and, about six minutes later, Matthew Hughes scored on a 19-yard run to give the Knights some breathing room, 35-14.

Then, Timothy Patterson recovered an El Modena fumbled punt attempt to start the fourth quarter. Two plays later, Mariner scored on a 24-yard pass-play from Lang to put the game out of reach, 41-14.

“We’re still making too many mistakes and that’s got to be [changed] if we want to go all the way,” Meiss said.

Foothill, which won league titles in 1993 and ‘94, failed to make the playoffs last season after losing to Villa Park, 35-28, in the regular-season finale.