YORBA LINDA – “Next man up” is a phrase commonly used in sports as injuries tend to happen, especially in football.
Foothill executed that plan to near perfection with the help of Derek Benjamins as the Knights continued their mastery over Esperanza with a 38-19 win Friday night at Yorba Linda High.
The Knights have won six of their past seven games over the Aztecs.
Dante Swayne ran for a game-high 166 yards and two touchdowns. Swayne had an injury scare after his third carry, but Benjamins stepped up for the Knights and promptly made an impact.
Depth at the running back position proved to be key for Foothill as Benjamins scored a pair touchdowns, including a 49-yard reception to make the score 14-0 midway through the opening quarter.
Bobby Garcia lofted a screen pass to Benjamins, who made one defender miss and raced up the middle of the field for his second touchdown of the game. Garcia threw for 160 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Foothill.
Swayne returned after missing a few offensive series and the Knights offensive line consistently paved the way for the speedy back to make big gains.
The Knights defense allowed just one first down in the first half as they took a 31-6 lead at halftime.
Esperanza put together a nice drive in the thirdled by Hayden Winters and Jake McPherson. McPherson’s 2-yard TD run made the score 31-13.
Foothill would answer right back with a scoring drive of their own as Swayne capped that possession with a two-yard TD run.
The Knights begin Crestview League action when they host El Dorado next Friday.
