Foothill Coach Doug Case gets a bucket of Gatorade after Thursday’s game as his players look on following a 35-17 victory over El Dorado. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado for OC Sports Zone)
J.D. Curran threw a career-high four touchdown passes and rushed for a TD to lead Foothill’s football team to a 35-17 victory over El Dorado to help the Knights capture the North Hills League championship Thursday night at Tustin High.
To see the slide show, please click on the first photo
The Knights (4-6, 3-0) won their third consecutive game and enter the CIF playoffs next weekend. The Golden Hawks finish the regular season at 3-7 and 1-2.
“It’s a great feeling going to the playoffs; it’s my first time,” said Curran, a senior. “We had some frustrations at mid-season but we overcame them and now we have a chance to go forward into the playoffs.”
Foothill took advantage of an El Dorado turnover early in the opening quarter to jump out to a 7-0 lead. Three plays after recovering a fumble at the Golden Hawks 25-yard line, Curran scrambled out of the pocket and tossed a 23-yard TD pass to Gabe Gallardo over the middle for the Knights touchdown.
El Dorado didn’t waste any time countering as Davaughn Celestine returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for a TD to tie the score at 7.
After a stellar defensive stand, Foothill used a short field and upped its lead to 14-7. Curran threw a 29-yard touchdown strike down the sideline to Michael Mcfarlin on the final play of the first quarter.
The Knights defense, led by Zack Yourstone, Justin Krantz and Dylan Ventress, held the Golden Hawks in check most of the first half and limited El Dorado’s offense to under 50 yards.
“We had the right mindset tonight and we played tough and made stops,” said Ventress.
El Dorado placekicker Ryan Jaquez booted a 40-yard field at the 4:13 mark of the second quarter to cut the lead to 14-10. However, Roman Pistone returned the following kickoff 55 yards giving the Knights excellent field position.
Behind Pistone hard-nosed running and a key third down catch by Nick Fryhoff, the Knights moved to the one-yard line. Curran capped the drive with a short TD run boosting the Knights to 21-10 halftime lead.
Celestine returned a 61 yards punt for a touchdown cutting the lead to 21-17 midway through the third quarter.
However, Curran rallied the Knights and threw TD passes to Gallardo and Fryhoff over the final 15 minutes of the game to seal the Foothill win.
“Each game our communication has improved and our confidence has grown,” Fryhoff said.
Curran completed nine passes for 126 yards and four TDs.
Pistone rushed for 104 yards on 20 carries. The sophomore running back went over 1,000 yards rushing and finishes the regular season with 1,043 yards rushing.
“I have total trust in my offensive line and we played great as a team tonight and we executed our assignments,” said Pistone. “It’s crazy, we’re so excited that we’re going to the playoffs.”
Kris Snipes, who started the season as the Golden Hawks defensive end but switched over to quarterback, led El Dorado with 40 yards rushing.
“I think the difference tonight was out defense,” said Foothill Coach Doug Case, who was doused with a Gatorade shower following the game by his players. “The end result is that we stopped their offense. Their two touchdowns were on special teams and we’ll have to shore that up but we’ll be working on that. But for now, we’re league champions, we’re going to the playoffs and we’re playing our best football of the season.”
Despite the setback and the probable end to the season, Golden Hawks coach Zack LaMonda remained upbeat about El Dorado’s future.
“They stopped our run and my hat is off to them,” said LaMonda. “They made big plays but we’re a young team and we are headed in the right direction.”
In a ceremony prior to the game, the Los Angeles Chargers Community Fund recognized Case as the Coach of the Week following Foothill’s victory over Brea Olinda last week. The Chargers presented the Foothill High athletic department with a $1,000 check. Chargers fourth-year wide receiver Geremy Davis was on hand and presented the award to Case and the athletic department.
STATS
ED 07 03 07 00 – 17
FHS 14 07 07 07 – 35
RUSHING: ED, Snipes 11-40, Bass 3-24; FH, Pistone 20-10.
PASSING: ED, Mason 1-3, 0, 5 yards; FH, Curran 9-13-0, 126 yards, 4 TDs.
RECEIVING: ED, Halili 1-2, Connor 1-5. FH, Gallardo 3-71, Mcfarlin 1-29.
-Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone
DEFENSIVE STAR DYLAN VENTRESS HELPS KNIGHTS WIN LEAGUE TITLE
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