San Diego High School Football : Vista’s Half Not as Good as Fontana’s Half : Panthers’ Late Rally Falls Short in 12-7 Loss to Top-Ranked Steelers

VISTA — The Vista Panthers found that one half of good football just wasn’t good enough against Fontana, the top-ranked team in the state.

“They won the first half and we won the second half,” Vista Coach Dick Haines said. “They just won the bigger half.”

Fontana, ranked No. 1 by Cal-Hi Sports, scored on its first two possessions, and held off the No. 4-ranked Panthers in the second half for a 12-7 victory.

Two Vista fumbles were the key to the game. Fontana took advantage of the first turnover, scoring a touchdown. And it used the second to stop a Vista drive late in the second half.

Vista took its opening drive to the Fontana 29-yard line, but the Panthers fumbled a handoff between quarterback Billy Faraimo and fullback David Strojny.

Fontana scored 12 plays later, when quarterback Chris Hancock capped a 71-yard drive with a one-yard run on fourth down. The extra point was blocked and Fontana led, 6-0.

On its next possession, Vista was again able to move the ball. The Panthers faced a fourth-and-goal on the five-yard line, but a blitz by the Steelers forced a hurried throw from Faraimo which fell incomplete.

Fontana took over at the five and scored its final touchdown on a three-yard run by tailback Derrick Malone with 1:40 remaining in the first half. A two-point conversion attempt failed and Fontana led, 12-0, at the half.

Vista outplayed Fontana in the second half, but could not catch up.

Both teams were scoreless in the third period, as the defenses controlled the tempo.

Vista took over on its own 24 with 11:09 remaining in the game. The highly potent Vista offense that was present in last week’s 42-6 victory over Oceanside, finally appeared in the fourth quarter.

Vista moved to the Fontana 40 in four plays behind the running of tailback Marc Jones and Strojny.

On first-and-10 at the 40, Faraimo threw a pass on the run to tight end Greg Cook. The Fontana defender slipped and Cook had to spin full circle before catching the ball on the right sideline at the Fontana 15. He ran untouched for the touchdown. The extra point by John Christianson cut Fontana’s lead to 12-7 with 8:55 remaining.