Fountain Valley’s Offense Clicks in 49-20 Victory

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Judging from summer practice, Coach George Berg thought Fountain Valley’s defense would have to carry the team while the offense developed.

If that is the case, the Barons are way ahead of schedule.

For the third straight week, Fountain Valley lit up the scoreboard, this time battering Bloomington, 49-20, in front of about 3,000 at Huntington Beach High.

“It’s obvious in those long practices our offense picked up a lot,” Berg said.

It’s also obvious the unbeaten Barons (3-0) have some talent.

Bloomington (2-1) stacked its defense to contain and control running back John Sanders, who had scored nine touchdowns in two games. In keying on Sanders--who finished with 93 yards and two touchdowns--the Bruins were done in by quarterback Jason Morris, who rushed for one score and passed for three others in the first half.

All three touchdown passes went to receiver Aaron Carter, who had four receptions for 179 yards.

Morris completed nine of 13 attempts for 244 yards.

“Because they overloaded their defense to stop Sanders, we had some other plays that were wide open,” Berg said. “We got on top of them and never let up.”

The Bruins’ leading rusher, Montise Mallory, whom Bloomington Coach Don Markham described as “one of the fastest players I’ve ever coached,” showed excellent speed, getting 195 yards and two touchdowns--one of them a 70-yard run in the third quarter--in 17 carries.

But Mallory committed one of four Bloomington fumbles. His was the most embarrassing; Kelvin Millhouse stripped Mallory at the 40 and returned the ball 60 yards for the game’s last score.

“There were many things we didn’t do well tonight,” said Markham, also noting the Bruins had only 10 men on the field on Sanders’ second touchdown run, which covered 60 yards.

Bloomington stunned Fountain Valley in the first quarter with a rare sideline pass from quarterback Eddie Vargas that Adam Iloilo caught at the 48 and ran untouched into the end zone. It was the first points the Barons had given up this season.

The Bruins tried a two-point run but were stopped short.

Fountain Valley recovered, scoring four times in the first half. Morris hit Carter with a 65-yard completion. Carter’s extra point gave the Barons the lead for good.

In the second quarter, with Fountain Valley on the Bloomington 17, the senior quarterback swept around the right side for a touchdown.

Bloomington moved 62 yards to the Barons seven yard-line. But Laron Cole was stripped of the ball at the six, and the fumble was recovered Jason Perez.

One play later, Carter caught a pass from Morris at the Barons’ 38 and sprinted the rest of the way for his second touchdown, giving Fountain Valley a 21-6 lead.

With 1:36 left in the half, Bloomington punted. Kicker Anthony Lytle dropped the snap, then had the punt blocked by Doug Foster. Eric Ramirez picked up the ball and rumbled to the Bloomington six.

Morris then hit Carter with a six-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds to play.