Fountain Valley stuns No. 2 Los Alamitos in OT

COSTA MESA- Down 14 points at halftime, it seemed as though the Fountain Valley Barons were overmatched against the No. 2 team in the county.

However, the Barons turned to their best offensive player to help spearhead a dramatic comeback and he did not disappoint.

Junior running back Kyle Middlebrooks gained 74 of his 99 yards in the second half and scored two touchdowns, while junior cornerback Ryan Steadman ended the game with a spectacular interception on the goal line.

The Barons scored 21 points in the second half and overtime to pull out a thrilling 21-14 overtime victory over No. 2 and previously undefeated Los Alamitos. (Full game stats.)

It was the Griffins (7-1, 2-1) who put the first points of the game on the board late in the first quarter, as both teams struggled to overcome penalties and mistakes in the early going.

A roughing the passer penalty on the Barons helped extend the Griffins' second possession of the game, and they took advantage of the extra opportunity, as Evans lofted a pass to left corner of the end zone, where Richardson out-leaped a Baron defender for a 28-yard touchdown. Kicker Zach Kadletz's  extra point was no good, giving the Griffins a 6-0 lead.

After forcing a quick three and out on the Barons ensuing possession, the Griffins looked ready to add to the lead, as they embarked on 13-play drive that ate exactly six minutes off the clock. However, Kadletz narrowly missed a 38-yard field goal, keeping it 6-0.

The Griffins defense, which held Middlebrooks to only 23 yards in the half, gave the offense one more chance late in the half, and Evans and Richardson made the most of it.

Evans lofted another high arching pass toward Richardson in the middle of the end zone. Richardson out-jumped two Baron defenders and somehow managed to hold on as he was hit for a 33-yard touchdown reception. Evans' subsequent two-point conversion run increased the lead to 14-0 at the half.

But Fountain Valley (6-2, 2-1) responded immediately after the intermission. After recovering an onside kick to start the half, it used a little trickery to get on the scoreboard. After a double reverse, junior quarterback Dominic Ragland took a pitch, and threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to senior Artie O'Keefe, who split two Griffins defenders, making it 14-7.

The Barons defense, which struggled to get pressure on Evans in the first half, came alive in the third quarter, as they stuffed the Griffins next two possessions, as they continually managed to pressure Evans, who managed only 59 yards passing in the second half.. O'Keefe led the Barons' defensive efforts, adding a sack and a fumble recovery. His fumble recovery gave thethe Barons a chance to take the lead deep in Griffin territory, but an interception by Griffins' cornerbackJonathan Cheri at the 9-yard line ended the threat.

The Barons defense held again, and with a short field, the Barons tied the game midway through the fourth quarter, as Middlebrooks, who gained 27 yards on the 49 yard drive, broke through a tackle and powered his way into the end zone from two yards out, making it 14-14.

On the Griffins' next possession, Evans used short passes and his legs to muster a 16-play drive that got the Griffins to the Barons' 20-yard line. But Kadletz's 38-yard attempt sailed wide right with four seconds left in regulation to preserve the tie.

On their first possession of overtime, the Barons went back to the ground game, as Middlebrooks and Ragland methodically moved them toward the goal line. Middlebrooks then sealed the drive with a one yard TD run, making it 21-14.

On the Griffins' ensuing possession, Evans tried to find Richardson for the tying score, but Steadman got a hand on the pass, and somehow managed to control the ball before going out of bounds and while falling backwards for the game-clinching interception.

• Click here for full game stats, and links to season totals and team rosters.

Contact the writer: jeichelberger@ocregister.com