Aquinas gets overpowered by Foothill in opening round
TUSTIN >> Aaron Mitchell and the Foothill offensive line teamed up for Mitchell’s 197 yards rushing and four touchdowns Thursday as the Knights defeated Aquinas 35-22 in a CIF Southern Section Division 5 first-round playoff game.
Foothill’s win on its home field at Tustin High moves the Knights (7-4) into next week’s second round. They will play the winner of Friday’s Ventura-newbury Park firstround game.
Mitchell scored the Knights’ first four touchdowns. Their fifth touchdown was on a Mitchell running play, but he fumbled the ball just before crossing the goal line and offensive lineman Ryan Worden recovered the ball in the end zone.
Mitchell finished with 28 carries and scored on runs of 3, 1, 2 and 38 yards. Mitchell (5-9, 180) went into this week averaging 115 rushing yards a game.
Foothill’s offensive line of Worden, Brandon Venegas, Isaiah Vizcarra, Brayden Mcintyre, Anthony Uribe and tight end Porter Elms consistently created openings for Mitchell.
“They did a great job of controlling the line of scrimmage,” said Foothill coach Doug Case. “And Aaron went off like he always does.”
Aquinas (7-4) had won six in a row including a 5-0 run through the Ironwood League going into Thursday’s game.
Foothill recovered an Aquinas fumble on the opening kickoff. Knights senior C.J. Sims covered the ball at the Aquinas 27-yard line. From there Mitchell carried on all six Foothill plays including a 3-yard touchdown run.
Aquinas tied the game with 5:47 left in the first quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Malachi Jones to senior receiver Yaqiym Halliburton. Halliburton had seven receptions for 113 yards in the first half.
Foothill scored on its following possession. Mitchell scored on a 1-yard dive to complete a nine-play, 67yard drive for a 14-7 lead.
Mitchell scored on a 2-yard with 9:13 remaining in the half to make it 217. That would be the halftime score.
Mitchell rushed for 111 yards on 18 carries in the first half.
Foothill was on offense to start the third quarter. Mitchell scored on a 38yard burst through the middle of the Knights’ line for a 28-7 lead.
After a William May interception returned possession to Foothill, the Knights drove to the Aquinas 2. Mitchell took a handoff and just as he was about the cross the goal line Aquinas forced a fumble. The ball popped into the end zone and Worden plunged on it for the touchdown and a 35-7 lead.
Aquinas scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes on runs of 1 and 8 yards by Champ Brown.
Aquinas junior quarterback Malachi Jones competed 19 of 32 passes for 211 yards and the touchdown to Halliburton, who finished with 11 receptions for 156 yards. Junior running back Jojo Solis, averaging 134 rushing yards a game, was held to 54 yards on 10 carries.
“I was proud of the defense tonight,” Case said. “I told them all along that if we’re going to do anything in these playoffs we’re going to have to start playing better defense.”