COUGARS WIN THE BATTLE OF UNBEATENS
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(10/26/07 Chico, CA) The Foothill varsity football team improved its overall record to 9-0 by handing Pleasant Valley its first loss of the season by taking a 20-10 win in an Eastern Athletic League game played Friday at Asgard Yard.
 
Midway through the first quarter, Drew Eberle's 19-yard gain gave the Cougars a first down at the Vikings' 43-yard line. Cole Johnston's quarterback keeper on third and 5 netted nine yards and earned Foothill a first down at the 29-yard line. The drive concluded with 3:21 remaining in the first when Austin Cantrell ran 35 yards for a touchdown. The extra point attempt was missed, so the Cougars lead stood at 6-0.
 
During Foothill's next possession, Buzz Ward took the ball to midfield on a 21-yard gain. The first quarter ended when Tyler Smith caught a 13-yard pass on third and 8 to bring the Cougars to the PV 35-yard line. The drive ended with 10:28 remaining in the second quarter on Ward's five-yard touchdown run. Evan Cuellar failed on the extra point attempt, so Foothill maintained a 12-0 lead.
 
An interception by Kyle Johnston allowed the Cougars to take over possession at the Vikings' 20-yard line. A completion to Casey Robertson set up a first and goal at the 7-yard line. Two plays later, Kyle Johnston scored on a three-yard touchdown run. He then added the two-point conversion as Foothill went ahead 20-0.
 
Pleasant Valley saw its first sign of life in the last minute of the first half as a 20-yard completion to Sean Reynolds gave them a first down at their 42-yard line. Later, a 24-yard completion to Evan Busby on second and 15 brought the Vikings to the Cougars' 29-yard line. However, PV got no closer than the 15-yard line as Eric Hoffman threw an incomplete pass to end the half.
 
The second half turned out to be different from the first as Foothill had trouble making their way into Viking territory, while Pleasant Valley reached the Cougar end of the field on many occasions. After Foothill went three plays and out to open the half, a blocked punt by Andrew Rorie allowed the Vikings to start at the Cougars' 29-yard line. Busby opened the drive with a 16-yard gain. The drive ended with 8:58 remaining in the third quarter when Augie Heath connected on a 35-yard field goal for PV's first points of the game.
 
The Vikings regained possession on an interception by Reynolds that allowed them to open their next drive on their 31-yard line. Busby started the drive with a 15-yard gain. However, Pleasant Valley was unable to get anything on this drive as Kyle Johnston intercepted Hoffman's pass inside the Foothill 10-yard line.
 
Busby's punt return allowed the Vikings to start their next drive at the Cougars' 29-yard line. They faced third and 13, but nothing came out of it as Hoffman threw an incomplete screen pass intended for Brandon Nickas. On the next play, Hoffman threw an incomplete pass intended for a well-covered Busby, allowing Foothill to take over on downs.
 
A nine-yard completion to Reynolds in the closing seconds of the third quarter gave PV a first down at the Cougars' 45-yard line. Hoffman opened the fourth quarter by connecting with Reynolds on a 30-yard pass to reach the 15-yard line. The drive ended with 10:33 remaining in the game on Busby's 10-yard touchdown run. Heath made the extra point as the Vikings pulled within 10 points at 20-10.
 
Pleasant Valley started its next drive at midfield on Busby's punt return with under nine minutes left in the contest. A five-yard gain by Busby on second and 3 gave the Vikings a first down at the Foothill 38-yard line. Hoffman's long completion to Justin Simmons earned PV another first down at the 10-yard line. The Vikings still came up empty handed as Heath missed a 22-yard field goal attempt.
 
Pleasant Valley took another crack at a possible score with about two minutes to go in the game as Reynolds' 16-yard catch set up a first and 10 at the Cougars' 49-yard line. A 14-yard run by Cody McHargue on third and 10 gave the Vikings a first down at the 35-yard line. The drive came to an end on the next play as Kyle Johnston intercepted Hoffman's pass and brought it back into PV territory.
 
Pleasant Valley will complete its 2007 regular season Thursday, Nov. 2 when they head to Oroville, while Foothill finishes its regular season Friday, Nov. 3 with a home game against Red Bluff.