Foothill Star Does the Team Thing

The numbers are modest. One pass, one completion, 34 yards. But for Santa Ana Foothill High wide receiver Derek Fitch, the numbers say a lot about maturity and a willingness to put the team’s good ahead of his own.

Fitch was Foothill’s starting quarterback last season, and by winning four of their last five games, the Knights shared the Century League title.

But Coach Doug Case wanted to open up his offense, using a single back, Mike Liti, and four wide receivers. Case asked Fitch to become a wideout, to give Don Poole a chance to pass. Fitch, who also starts at safety, punts and returns kicks, agreed.

“In hindsight, it has been a tremendous move,” Case said. “It’s neat to have a kid mature enough to do the team thing. He could easily have been the quarterback and probably had a great year, but we’ve only got about 30 players. We came to the conclusion if [Poole] can work out at quarterback, Derek would be more valuable as a wide receiver and DB.”

Foothill is 2-0, with a 25-20 upset of its rival, Tustin, and a 33-15 victory over Irvine Woodbridge.

Against Woodbridge on Thursday, Fitch made a critical play. With a 7-0 lead halfway through the second quarter, and facing third and 15 from the Foothill 36, Fitch completed an end around by throwing a 34-yard pass to Mike Brittingham.

It seemed a pivotal moment. Foothill scored a few plays later, and had a 27-3 halftime lead.Fitch, who caught four passes for 22 yards against Woodbridge, now has five for 40 yards.

Poole has completed 30 of 55 passes for 436 yards. Liti is averaging 5.3 yards per carry. And Foothill, which lost four of its first five games a year ago, is undefeated.