TUSTIN – Foothill took advantage of two Beckman turnovers in the third quarter to break open a close game and then cruised to a 37-12 victory over the Patriots in a nonleague game Friday night at Tustin High.
Leading 14-6 at halftime, the Knights converted two Beckman miscues into two touchdowns in three minutes of the third quarter.
Foothill safety Richard Barajas’ interception changed the game’s momentum in the quarter.
“I was watching the quarterback’s eyes, and I knew I was going to intercept it,” said Barajas. “It’s exciting; it’s my first one, and it was a huge momentum shift.”
Four plays after Barajas’ interception, Foothill QB Preston Moebius threaded a 24-yard TD pass to Dante Swayne to give the Knights a 20-6 lead.
Beckman (1-1) fumbled away the ball away on the first play on the ensuing possession and Foothill was back in business.
Jimmy Latham (two TDs) capped a short drive with a 2-yard TD run and Foothill built a commanding 27-6 lead midway through the third quarter.
Moebuis completed 15 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns.
“Beckman came off an emotional win last week,” said Foothill coach Doug Case. “We came out flat, and they took it to us in the first half. However, after we converted the two turnovers in the third, it was all us.”
Patriots QB Dean Nagle completed a 47-yard TD pass to Demetrius Goods and the Patriots took a 6-0 lead in the opening quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Foothill (2-0) marched 69 yards in 10 plays to take a 7-6 advantage. Moebius capped the drive with a six-yard TD run.
Later in the quarter, Foothill’s defense stopped running back I’Jon Akahi on a fourth-down run at the Knights 27-yard line. Moebius countered by engineering another long drive to increase the Knights’ lead.
Moebius culminated the march with a well-thrown pass in the corner of the end zone. Chris Reem and made a diving TD catch that made it 14-6.
Cornerback Joey Schlemmer had two interceptions for the Knights and Foothill’s defense forced four turnovers.
Nagle completed 11 passes for 170 yards and two TDs to lead Beckman.