By Matthew Nguyen, Staff Writer
On Fountain Valley’s senior night, the Barons trounced Newport Harbor 34-21 thanks to a prolific second half showing. The victory locks them into the playoffs where they hope to eventually obtain the C.I.F championship.
Both teams offensive struggled early in the first quarter. A fumble by Newport Harbor and two early interceptions from Fountain Valley marked a sloppy opening for both sides until the sailors eventually punched in a late first quarter passing touchdown. The Barons rallied back with a late touchdown of their own in the first. Junior quarterback Josh Stupin found senior wide receiver Kishaun Sykes down the left sideline for a 33-yard touchdown as time expired off the clock. The score stood at 6-7 to end the opening quarter after Fountain Valley failed to convert the extra point.
The early quarter offensive woes continued for both teams in the second. Both teams struggled to find the endzone due to undisciplined play that resulted in penalties for both sides. Eventually, the sailors bullied their way into the endzone for a short rushing touchdown midway through the first quarter. The Barons drove down the field on the ensuing drive, finally finding their rhythm late in the first half. Senior running back Matthew Fuiava took a handoff straight through the middle for a blustering touchdown to cap off the impressive offensive drive. The half ended with a score of 12-14 Newport.
The defense tightened up for the barons in the second half, recovering a Newport Harbor fumble on the sailors 41-yard line on the opening drive. They capitalized on their defensive success with another rumbling rushing touchdown by Fuiava, who trucked through multiple Newport defenders on the way into the endzone. The barons defense would not allow another point for the Sailors in the quarter, so the third closed with a score of 20-14.
With their defense already firing on all cylinders, the barons finally found their rhythm on offense. To open the fourth quarter, quarterback Stupin found junior wide receiver Blake Anderson in the back left corner of the endzone on a back-shoulder fade for an impressive 17-yard touchdown. Anderson, who subbed in for a previously injured junior cornerback Dillon Kerrigan, snagged a deep interception on the ensuing drive to set up another potential touchdown.
Stupin, scrambling out of the pocket, found senior wide receiver Brandon Krause for a 9-yard touchdown. That throw would be Stupin’s third touchdown of the day. Newport Harbor tried to stage a last minute comeback on the backs of a late touchdown score but their attempt was derailed by another interception by Anderson, his second of the day.
The Barons are already moving past their win as they begin to prepare for the playoffs. They walk into C.I.F with confidence that they can soundly defeat any challenge that could stand in between them and a championship.
“[The win] gets us in, that’s all I care about. Whoever we play, anytime anywhere, anyone it doesn’t matter to me,” said head coach Jimmy Nolan
