By Shayan Abbasi & Jayden Nguyen
The annual Bell Game between Fountain Valley High School (FVHS) and Edison High School (EHS) held its 54th edition on Friday: a time-honored tradition, long captivating the hearts of football enthusiasts and alums. A Spirit Week packed with dress-up days and the return of the Glow Show promised an entertaining game. Despite Edison emerging as the clear victor with a final score of 56-7, the Barons showed promise, relentlessly applying pressure onto the Edison defense.
The game began excitedly as the Chargers swiftly asserted their authority, scoring a touchdown seven minutes and 30 seconds into the first quarter. However, their success seemed short-lived, as a fumble in the subsequent play gave Fountain Valley a chance to regain possession.
Despite losing 10 yards in the following play, Edison’s offense pushed Fountain Valley back to the 15-yard line. A pass from the Edison quarterback to the wide receiver saw the team make a remarkable 21-yard run, culminating in another touchdown with four minutes and two seconds left on the clock. Edison subsequently set up for a one-point conversion, successfully adding another point to their lead.
The Barons kicked off, but an Edison running back managed to receive the ball and return it to the 40-yard line. Edison’s offense was on fire, making critical plays and steadily advancing down the field. With 4:57 left in the second quarter, Edison secured another touchdown at the 10-yard line, extending their lead to 0-21. Their relentless pursuit of victory showed no signs of slowing down.
The Baron offense responded swiftly, steadily making their way up the field following the Edison punt. Junior quarterback Lucas Alexander rushed past the Charger defense, scoring a touchdown for Fountain Valley. The one-point conversion attempt by junior Nolan Olivares was good, and Fountain Valley showed promise, narrowing the lead 7-21.
With four minutes left in the first half, EHS rapidly moved up the field, thanks to a series of handoffs and quarterback rushes. A touchdown and one-point conversion increased the Edison lead to 7-28. For FVHS, the offensive breakthroughs did not continue. Incomplete passes and flags on the plays hindered the Barons’ progress, and the first half ended 7-28.
By the time the third quarter commenced, the Fountain Valley defense had found its footing. An empathetic tackle by junior A.C. Trang and a notable play by senior Hayden Espinoza highlighted defensive success and forced an Edison punt. Crafty rushes and well-timed passes by Alexander anchored the offense, and a reception by junior Charles Grover brought the ball to the 25-yard line. However, incomplete passes led to a turnover on downs, forcing Fountain Valley to punt. Edison’s offense remained relentless on the other side of the field, marching down the field and securing another touchdown. By the end of the third quarter, their lead had expanded to an impressive 7-49, and it seemed difficult for Fountain Valley to find a way back into the game.
The fourth quarter commenced offensive challenges by the Barons. Despite capitalizing off rushes and short passes, FVHS could not avoid a turnover on downs, turning the ball over to Edison. Impressive defensive plays by junior Brady Tomko and senior Gabriel Regalado held the Charges at bay and set the stage for Fountain Valley’s offensive gains. However, Edison was able to capitalize off a fumble, bringing the ball to the 17-yard line. A hand-off by an Edison running back carried the ball into the endzone, scoring the game’s final touchdown. Despite the brief moments of hope, Fountain Valley could not break through Edison’s ironclad defense, with the game ending 7-56.
This was an entertaining edition of the Bell Game, largely thanks to standout Barons.
“I think the whole team battled and came in with the right mindset, and they came to do their best to produce for our community, ” head coach David Gutierrez said.
Regarding key players, Gutierrez said, “Nolan [Olivares] produces and I think Lucas [Alexander] played really well for his first game starting.”
Fountain Valley’s next game will be at home against Newport Harbor on Friday at 7:00 p.m.
