Foothill Picks Off Orange for Openers

After struggling with just one victory in its nonleague schedule, Foothill got off to a good start in the Century League with a 34-20 victory over Orange Friday night at El Modena High.

Despite being outgained in total yardage by Orange, 323-223, Foothill broke a 7-7 tie late in the first quarter on a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Darren Crume, and the Knights never relinquished the lead.

“I don’t think any one team in this league will go undefeated this year,” Foothill Coach Tom Meiss said. “Our players could have been discouraged by starting the season 1-4, but as far as I am concerned, we’re now just 1-0.”

Both teams struggled early in the game, as three turnovers and a roughing the kicker penalty came during a 20-second span. The first of two interceptions by Foothill’s Matt Hall led to Hall catching a four-yard scoring pass from Robbie Koster with 5 minutes 42 seconds left in the first quarter.

Orange proceeded to tie the score on its next drive when Chance Perry got his first touchdown of the evening on a one-yard run just before Crume gave the Knights the lead for good on his kickoff return.

Foothill held a 27-7 lead with just under three minutes left in the third quarter when Orange mounted its comeback. Perry scored on another short run and Derald Deason caught a touchdown pass to bring the Panthers within seven points.

Hall’s second interception led to Foothill’s final touchdown with less than two minutes left in the game.