by Olivia Krueger, Staff Writer
In the biggest rivalry game of the season, the Barons’ bell drought became 12 years in a 12-56 loss to Edison High School.
To begin the first quarter, A Baron fumble recovery gave Fountain Valley a flash of hope, but hopes were quickly diminished when the offense went a quick three-and-out. Edison scored on the following play by a 9-yard touchdown pass and a good extra point, putting the Barons down early 0-7. Another Barons’ three-and-out and another Chargers’ 2-yard running touchdown made the score 0-14.
After the Barons got a touchback from the Chargers’ punt, Fountain Valley’s quarterback Andrew Ross (‘19) was picked off at the 24-yard line and the ball gets returned to the Barons’ 2-yard line, running into the end zone for another Edison touchdown, the score now 0-21. After the Barons get their first down of the game, Ross was sacked for 7-yards and the Barons were forced to punt. The Chargers continued to show their guns and threw for a 19-yard touchdown pass to end the first quarter with a score of 0-28.
Fountain Valley started the second quarter with the ball at their own 25-yard line but were forced to punt. However, Edison botched the punt return and the Barons recovered the fumble and returned the ball to Edison’s 44-yard line, but the Barons turned the ball over on downs. The back and forth possessions continued fast and furious when, on Edisons’ 44-yard line, the Barons sacked the quarterback, forced and recovered another fumble.
With a 9-yard gain by Kishaun Sykes (‘19) and a 10-yard penalty, the ball moved to Edisons’ 25-yard line and was powered to the end zone on Angel Hernandez’s (‘17) 25-yard run. A missed extra point made the score 6-28 halfway through the second quarter. The Chargers scored twice more in the span of two minutes, upping the score to a commanding 6-42 Edison lead.
On the first play following the punt return, Ross was intercepted and the ball was vigorously run into the end zone for an Edison 21-yard pick-six, the score now 6-49. Hernandez made an athletic 10-yard sliding catch to move the ball to the 50-yard line and Brandon Krause (‘19) kept the momentum going by accelerating into the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown.
The Barons attempted to go for two, but failed to convert, which kept the score 12-49. An extensive three minute Edison drive wore out the Barons and ended in an 8-yard touchdown, closing out the first half, the Barons trailing 12-56.
The third quarter was dominated by the Barons’ and Chargers’ defenses. Ross was intercepted, for the second time that night, after making the decision not to punt on 4th and 12, but the Chargers were unable to capitalize on the following drive. The Barons’ defense recovered another fumble, but like the Chargers, were unable to exploit the opportunity. The Chargers set up to kick a field goal on the 9-yard line at 4th and 9, but just barely miss, the score remaining 12-56 going into the fourth quarter.
The score remained 12-56 at the end of the hard-fought fourth quarter powered by both defenses, thus concluding the 49th Bell Game.
Fountain Valley’s Bell Game record is now 14-34-1, the Chargers leading in wins by a large margin and continuing to add to their win streak.
Fountain Valley’s varsity football fell to 1-7 on the season and 0-5 in league. The next game will be against Marina on Thursday, November 3 at Westminster High School.
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