HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Quarterback fuels Foothill
Everything is better when the three-year starting quarterback is on the field.
And it’s never been more obvious this season than at Foothill High in Pleasanton. The return on Sept. 15 of Fresno Statebound Ben Wooldridge from a shoulder injury has helped spur an impressive rebound from an 0-2 start.
Wooldridge certainly did his part Friday against California-San Ramon, but the entire team played with a confident edge en route to a convincing 14-0 East Bay Athletic League win over the host Grizzlies.
“That was a good effort,” Falcons coach Matt Sweeney said. “Thought we played a great game. Ben executed great and we ran the ball well. It’s a good win.”
Foothill (3-2, 3-1 EBAL) stumbled on its opening possession when it fumbled on the California 1-yard line and the ball was recovered by the Grizzlies in the end zone for a touchback. After the defense finally halted a 15-play drive by California with a turnover on downs, the Falcons put together an 89-yard scoring drive capped by a 1-yard run by Wooldridge for a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.
That would be all the offense Foothill would need, thanks to a defense that bent but never broke.
California (3-2, 2-2) had a big rushing night from Hugh Savage (27 carries, 134 yards), but his best chance to score came when he broke loose for a 52-yard run midway through the third quarter. Foothill’s Roman Sahagun caught him and dragged him down at the 9-yard line, and the Grizzlies came away with nothing after a missed 23-yard field goal.
“It was a good test. They’re a tough team,” Wooldridge said of California. “They fly around on defense and offense. They’re all-around tough and have a good coaching staff. … It’s great to have a defense who can put up a goose egg like that. We stopped ourselves a few times (on offense), but our defense picked us up.”
Wooldridge and sophomore tight end Peter Montini teamed up for the Falcons’ other score, connecting on a 20-yard crossing route that turned into a 67-yard score.
“Great play call,” Wooldridge said. “Pete ran a great route and made a great catch, and he’s a great ballplayer. He can make people miss and he can run people over, and that’s what happened.”
California had two possessions after that to try and make things interesting but couldn’t get closer than the Foothill 40-yard line.
Wooldridge finished 11-for-15 for 196 yards. He did have one interception at the end of the first half. Montini caught three passes for 117 yards, and running back Josh Shields rushed for 146 yards on 24 carries.
“People are starting to step up and make the plays we need to,” Sahagun said. “We’re getting the little things right. That’s what’s helping us win ballgames like this.”