WESTMINSTER – Chad Olberding ran for three touchdowns and Sal Ochoa added two 55-yard punt returns for scores as Fountain Valley cruised to a 43-6 win over Baldwin Park in a nonleague game at Westminster High on Friday night.
While Olberding and Ochoa provided the bulk of the scoring, it was relentless defense from the Barons that bottled up Baldwin Park most of the night. Fountain Valley (2-0) held the Braves to 72 yards, including just 11 on the ground.
“We really like our defense,” Fountain Valley coach Ray Fenton said. “We have a lot of returners back from last year’s team. I thought our defense was pretty good last year, and it looks like we’re picking up where we left off. It’s fun to watch them play.”
That defense started the scoring with a safety when Kent Swift tackled Baldwin Park running back Hector Moran in the end zone on the Braves’ second play.
After trading possessions, the Barons went up 9-0 on a 50-yard drive capped by Olberding’s 24-yard keeper with 5:31 left in the first quarter. His other two touchdowns came on 1-yard runs. Olberding finished with 55 yards on seven carries and Dakarai Barnett added 46 yards on 10 carries.
The Barons defense provided a touchdown later in the first quarter when Stone Escobedo intercepted an Anthony Franco pass and returned it 40 yards, putting Fountain Valley up 16-0.
Ochoa’s punt returns came with 5:07 and 1:50 left in the second quarter, the latter giving the Barons a 43-0 lead.
“Sal is a three-year starter and very athletic, he has good football sense,” Fenton said. “It was great to see him take two back. We blocked a punt and had two touchdowns on punt returns, that’s a pretty good deal on special teams there.”
“It was great to see him take two back,” Fenton said.
Fountain Valley (2-0) visits Trabuco Hills next Friday while Baldwin Park(1-1) hosts Northview.
