KNIGHTS SCHEDULE Overall Record: 3-6-0 Southern League: 0-2-0 Date Aug. 31 Sept. 7 Sept. 14 Sept. 20 Sept. 28 Oct. 5 Oct. 12 Oct. 18 Oct. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Opponent at Calvin Christian Borrego Springs Escondido Charter (Thurs.) at SD Jewish at La Jolla Country Day BYE at Redlands-Arrowhead Christian (Thurs.) *at Sun Valley Charter (@ Ramona) *Julian Calvin Christian *at Midway Baptist Time 34-18 23-08 27-48 62-12 0-42 0-50 6-46 ccd. 12-33 0-36

WEEK 12 / CIF FIRST ROUND
Imperial 45, Julian 0 VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Courtesy of Imperial Valley Press Online

Despite Midway's victory, Julian upended Sun Valley to clinch the Southern League crown and leave the Patriots a half-game back in the standings.

For Foothills, JOHN MAGANA gained 82 yards on 21 rushes, while JORDAN CRUMLISH caught two of the Knights' four pass completions. On defense, MATTISON RUNDLETT registered a sack, while RYAN EDMISTON garnered an interception.

For the Crusaders, it allowed them to avenge a loss in their first-ever game by bouncing back two months later to stop the injury-plagued Knights at Junior Seau Field at Parkway Middle School.

After Calvin tossed a first-half shutout to take a 20-0 lead, Foothillers finally got the offense in gear with touchdown runs by CALEB GARDNER (a 2-yarder in the 3rd period) and JOHN MAGANA (a 50-yard burst in the 4th period). Magana paced the Knights with 81 rushing yards, while Gardner was the leading Foothills tackler with 13 shots (7 solo).

Gardner also passed for 125 yards, including four completions to MATTISON RUNDLETT for 114 yards.

"I saw Arrowhead play both Midway Baptist and Sun Valley Charter and thought we matched up well against them," said Foothills coach WAYNE CLARK. "But once we got out there, it was like they were a completely different team."

The Eagles lost to both San Diego County opponents, but avoided the sweep by handing the Knights their second-biggest shutout loss in the program's brief history.

"We implemented new things on both sides of the ball," noted Clark. "But I guess we didn't sufficiently drill them enough to make them work."

Similar to Granite Hills (0-for-4), the Knights stuck primarily to a ground game, missing on both pass attempts. But Arrowhead limited Foothills to just 67 yards on the ground, including a 17-yard burst by MATTISON RUNDLETT, the team's leading rusher with 29 yards on 9 carries.

JOHN MAGANA added 24 yards on 16 rushes. He was also the leading tackler with 10, including 8 solo stops. TRAVIS WOLFE added nine tackles, including a sack.

The Knights open their Southern League slate next Thursday (Oct. 18), meeting Sun Valley Charter at Ramona High Stadium, starting at 8 p.m.

Wild swings can also be found in the scoring of the Knights.

One week after establishing a school record by rolling up 62 points on the scoreboard, Foothills Christian suffered another shutout loss at the hands of the Torreys.

In 2006, LJCD (2-3) secured a 56-0 blanking of the Knights (3-2).

© East County Sports.com
CARMEL VALLEY (9-21-07) -- The standard for a top running back is to rush for more than 100 yards and register multiple touchdowns. But when a pair of teammates reach this accomplishment, the game usually turns into a rout.

For Foothills Christian, such was the case after GARRET CAMPBELL and JOHN MAGANA both stormed past the century mark Thursday (Sept. 20), as the Knights coupled a quick safety with nine touchdowns, powering past San Diego Jewish Academy, 62-12, in the Lions' home opener.

"We definitely had the size (advantage) on them -- the first time we've really ever had size on anybody," said Campbell . "It was a just well-fought game."

Campbell, a junior quarterback, rushed for 153 yards and four scores, then added a 5th touchdown with a 90-yard kickoff return. Magana piled on 125 yards and three TDs.

Despite the gaudy numbers, it was the defense of Foothills Christian (3-1) which dictated the rout. Following a safety – when a snap flew over the punter's head just 62 seconds into the contest – RYAN HUGHES continued the pressure with an early interception, then later recovered a fumble on a failed 2-point PAT attempt by SDJA (0-2).

"It's always an up-lifting experience when we get points, whether off a turnover on the first drive or a safety like that," Campbell added. "The line is working a lot harder, definitely stepping-up the last few weeks."

Magana and Campbell also registered interceptions, as Foothills limited SDJA to a mere 181 yards in total offense -- minus-27 rushing, including two for 20 yards in losses on sacks by ROBERT KAKOS.

"The defensive line and the outside linebackers are containing -- that's what allowed me to get in there and make tackles," noted Magana, who doubles as a defensive back. "They tried to run at us, but we filled the holes."

Campbell's scoring runs came on bursts of 20, 18, 71 and 21 runs. Magana reached the end zone on jaunts of 1, 50 and 5 yards. Meanwhile, MATTISON RUNDLETT took a Campbell pass along the left flat, then beat the cornerback down the sideline on a 66-yard TD. Rundlett finished with four receptions for 102 yards.

Trailing 29-0 at halftime, the Lions answered on a halfback option pass by Lev Mizan for a 63-yard score. But Campbell took the following kickoff coast-to-coast to trigger the blowout, as Foothills only needed to punt once all contest.

Escondido Charter broke open a close contest with a 21-0 advantage in the third period, mounting a 42-13 lead.

Foothills quarterback GARRET CAMPBELL completed just 8-of-27 passes for 144 yards, hampered by a foot injury which prevented him from playing on defense. However, he took the game's opening kickoff 77 yards for a score, while rushing 9 times for 99 yards, including a 25-yard TD romp.

Meanwhile, the Knights stayed close thanks to three Escondido Charter turnovers, as JORDAN CRUMLISH, JOHN MAGANA and COTTON POORE made fumble recoveries. But the bigger White Tigers line finally wore down Foothills (2-1).

In the final two minutes, Campbell tossed a 33-yard TD pass MATTISON RUNDLETT with 1:30 left. Foothills covered the onsides kick, as Magana later scored on a 7-yard run with 1:10 remaining.

Another onsides kick also went to the Knights, but a Foothills pass play fell a yard short of the end zone as time expired.

Included was an 87-yard kickoff return by Campbell to open the second half, expanding the Knights' lead to 16-0. Campbell also tossed scoring passes of 16 and 46 to MATTISON RUNDLETT, and he opened the game's scoring by kicking a 38-yard field goal.

For the contest, Campbell rushed seven times for 99 yards, including a 30-yard burst, while JOHN MAGANA carried the ball 17 times for 71 yards to keep the Rams offense off the field.

The lone Borrego (0-1) touchdown came moments following Campbell 's kickoff return, as Alex Garcia raced untouched for an 81-yard rushing score, then converted a 2-point PAT run.

Otherwise, the Rams passing attack was stymied, courtesy of 10 sacks by the Knights, including were three sacks by TRAVIS WOLFE, part of his game-high total of 11 tackles. CHRIS CLARK, CALEB GARDNER and Rundlett (10 tackles) added two sacks each.

© East County Sports.com
ESCONDIDO (9-1-07) -- Unlike two years ago, when Foothills Christian (then Venture Christian) elected to step slowly into football by offering an 8-man proigram before advancing to an 11-man program, Calvin Christian decided to dive straight into "regular" football from the start.

And the Knights were right there to ruin the Crusaders' debut.

Behind three touchdowns by quarterback GARRETT CAMPBELL, Foothills raced to a quick 14-point lead and breezed to a 34-18 conquest Friday afternoon (Aug. 30).

Campbell rushed seven times for 84 yards, including scores of 21 and 20 yards, while also answering Calvin's first-ever TD march by returning the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for another score for a 20-6 lead through the first period.

Following Campbell's first TD rush, the quarterback also passed for a score, finding MATTISON RUNDLETT from 24 yards for a 14-0 lead.

Calvin answered on a 1-yard sneek by quartreback David Stout to cap an 80-yard scoring drive, but Campbell went coast-to-coast with the kickoff, as the teams exchanged scores the rest of the way, with Foothills answering every time the Crusaders managed to score.

Campbell finished accounting for all of his team's points. Along with scoring 18 points, he passed for a pair of touchdowns -- including a 25-yarder to LEVI GARDNER iin the third period -- plus a pair of 2-point PATs to Gardner.

READ THE GAME STORY IN THE NORTH COUNTY TIMES HERE.

© East County Sports.com
BLOSSOM VALLEY (8-29-07) -- The step from 8-man football to the 11-man variety proved painful for Foothills Christian High last season. Following a 4-1 record in its inaugural season, the Knights went just 1-9 last season, not capturing its lone victory until the final day of the 2006 season.

Thus, few expect much from a roster which features just a single senior. In fact, the school is receiving so little respect, one local publication listed one of its assistant coaches as the head coach without checking.

However, several underclassmen with playing experience, plus the motivation of playing for a league title -- the new Southern League -- it could be enough to keep the Knights in the balance throughout the season.

The Knights' running attack will operate behind senior center LEVI GARDNER, who will join linemen TIM GIRON and CHRIS CLARK to block for fullback CALEB GARDNER and quarterback GARRETT CAMPBELL.

With less than two dozen players, many of the Knights will be expected to go both ways, but such is the case for the entire Southern League, which includes Midway Baptist and Julian, schools which played against Foothills in the old Pacific League last season, will be joined by newcomers Sun Valley Charter of Ramona and Escondido's Christian Life Academy, which will play an abbreviated schedule.

Foothills will again play its home games at Junior Seau Field at Parkway Middle School, with practices now at Los Coches Creek Middle School.