TUSTIN – Evan Mickelson’s third-quarter field goal gave Foothill the lead, and the Knights relied on their defense late to defeat Beckman, 9-7, Friday night in a nonleague game at Tustin High.
Foothill coach Doug Case knows that he has a young team this year, and he tried to simplify the game for his squad.
The Knights (1-1) won behind a methodical approach, controlling field position for most of the game to keep the Patriots (2-1) off the scoreboard.
Logan Wetherholt and Chris Yaghi led the Knights’ defensive front, which held Beckman to just 37 rushing yards on the night.
“Our defense has been solid both games,” Case said. “We’re young up front. We’re getting better on both sides of the ball.”
The Knights struck three minutes in on an electrifying 74-yard quarterback keeper by Zac Vujnov. Foothill’s 6-0 lead would stand up for several series as the Knights’ defense held Beckman’s JT Manber to just 1-of-6 passing in the first quarter.
Dean Nagle took over at quarterback for Beckman to start the second quarter. The Patriots’ offense immediately came to life as it moved the ball across midfield for the first time in the game. Nagle completed his first four passes, before a pair of incompletions put the drive in danger.
On fourth down, Foothill’s Jimmy Latham blocked the Patriots’ punt, but he was assessed a penalty for kicking the ball away from a Beckman player in pursuit of the recovery. The Beckman drive continued, and on the 13th play, Adrian Morrow’s goal-line run gave Beckman a 7-6 lead.
Foothill struggled to find its rhythm offensively. The Knights faced a fourth-and-11 in Beckman territory late in the third quarter, and Case elected to go for it.
Chris Reem rewarded him with a 13-yard, sideline reception from Preston Moebius to set up the go-ahead field goal.
Chad McCune’s interception ended Beckman’s final drive. Joey Schlemmer also picked off a pass for the Knights.
