Fountain Valley knocks off Newport Harbor, 22-21
October 24th, 2008, 12:16 am · 6 Comments · posted by Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004
By DAMIAN CALHOUN
OCVarsity staff
NEWPORT BEACH -- Fountain Valley’s football team rode the emotional rollercoaster in the final seconds of Thursday’s Sunset League game against Newport Harbor.
Kyle Middlebrooks’ 52-yard touchdown run with 38 seconds gave Fountain Valley the lead, but that excitement quickly gave way to nervousness as Newport Harbor’s kicker Dillan Freiberg lined up for a potential winning 44-yard field goal.
The kick, with two seconds on the clock, came up short, sending the Barons (5-2, 1-1) back into celebration mode with a 22-21 upset home victory over the ninth-ranked Sailors (4-3, 0-2).
Fountain Valley was the designated home team, even though the game was played at Newport Harbor High. The Barons are playing their home games this season at Orange Coast College, but it was occupied Thursday night.
“I was scared,” Fountain Valley quarterback Dominic Ragland said of the potential winning field goal. “It looked high, but I knew we were going to win this game.”
Fountain Valley trailed, 21-16, with 2:02 remaining. The Barons moved to their own 48-yard line and gave the ball to Middlebrooks. He did the rest.
“It was a draw,” Fountain Valley coach John Shipp said. “You have to give the guy the ball and see what happens.
Middlebrooks finished with 221 yards rushing.
The Barons jumped out to 10-0 lead and took a 13-7 lead into halftime.
Newport Harbor scored a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 21-13 lead.
“We have a great group of kids they battled and made huge plays,” Shipp said. “This puts us right back in the mix of things (in the Sunset League) and that’s what we wanted. … Hats off to my boys.”
The Barons play host to Los Alamitos next Friday, while the Sailors play host to Esperanza.
6 Comments
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Congrats Barons. The bragging rights are ours this year.
The Barons have the right stuff to beat good teams, They just cant afford to beat themselves. Coache's stay focused and do your homework and you might end up in the promised land. Good luck next week against the Griffins.
Gutsy Call with the time remaining...I would have passed the ball...Defense looked a bit sketchy on pass coverage, need to correct it before going against passing teams, like Los al...Your kicker gets the co-mvp with Mr. Middlebrooks...What a blessing to have Mr. Middlebrooks in your backfield and he still has another year. Try and keep your hands on him due others coming to wisk him away...
Last night's Los Al / Edison game wasn't as close as Mr. Arias reported. Los Al did a bit more than just "....escape with a win." What is it with you guys at the Register? Year after year you gush and fawn all over the Trinity and South Coast leagues. With the exception of last year's 7-4 record, Los Al (a team composed mainly of sophomores and juniors, by the way) has been one of, if not the most, consistent program in the County regardless of which division they have played in!
As a matter of fact, the Sunset League, in general, has been the most consistent league in the county, year after year.
Even if Tesoro beats San Clemente tonight, Los Al deserves the #1 Ranking. Los Al has beaten 7 consecutive teams with a won loss record of .667! They have outscored their opponents 212-92!
Tesoro is an excellent team! But frankly, Mission Viejo was overrated!
Los Al is the best team in the county at this point and Clark Evans is the best QB by far!
Go Griffins!
Seal Beach Gary
Go Barons!!!!
That Nick Ragland is a leader. Last nights performance showed he is All League, if not All-CIF. He kept his cool under pressure and with questionable play calling. Ragland and Middlebrooks should take them far next year.