Knights break out to crush Patriots

By Ramon Scott
Updated: September 5, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL

STEWART’S THREE TOUCHDOWNS POWER KNIGHTS

FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 41, ORANGE GLEN 7

By ECS staff

ESCONDIDO — Foothills Christian needed nine games to secure its only victory last season.

This fall, the Knights required only three.

Senior David Stewart rushed for 185 yards and three touchdowns, while junior quarterback Hayden Oleson accounted for three more scores as Foothills Christian overwhelmed Orange Glen, 41-7, Friday night.

The victory completed a dramatic two-week offensive transformation for the Knights (1-2), who were shut out in their opener but have since scored 63 points.

Foothills Christian produced 338 yards of offense against Orange Glen, averaged 12.9 yards on its 19 recorded rushing attempts and scored in all four quarters.

Stewart remained at the center of everything.

The senior carried 17 times, averaged 10.9 yards and broke a 56-yard run while recording his second consecutive game with more than 180 rushing yards. After accumulating 221 yards and two touchdowns against Calipatria, Stewart followed with three scores in the Knights’ first victory.

His first touchdown helped Foothills Christian take a 7-0 lead through one quarter. Stewart scored again during a 14-point second period and completed his three-touchdown performance early in the third.

The Knights led 21-0 at halftime and extended the margin to 27-0 immediately after receiving the second-half kickoff.

Oleson gave Foothills Christian the offensive balance it lacked during its winless 2025 season. He completed 7 of 13 passes for 93 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, then scored on a 40-yard read-option keeper in the fourth quarter.

The Knights had practiced the read-option throughout the week, and Oleson made the proper read before breaking loose for the touchdown that increased their lead to 41-0.

Sophomore Isaac Maisonet became Oleson’s primary target, catching five passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. His scoring reception helped Foothills Christian build its 21-point halftime advantage.

Senior Jonah Nottoli caught Oleson’s other touchdown pass, a five-yard connection during the third quarter. Sophomore Liam Dailey added a 23-yard reception, and sophomore Cahlil Martinez gained 20 yards on his only rushing attempt.

While the offense continued its emergence, Foothills Christian’s young defense delivered its strongest performance of the season.

Junior Drew Mikulsky, selected as the Knights’ defensive player of the game, recorded 11 tackles, including eight solo stops, one tackle for loss and an interception.

Sophomore Jax Vizkeleti contributed 10 tackles, one tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry. Fellow sophomore Duke Houston finished with eight tackles, five tackles for loss and five quarterback hurries, repeatedly disrupting the Orange Glen backfield.

Junior Wyatt Matlock added eight tackles, while Maisonet made six stops and intercepted a pass. Senior Jace Hilemon recovered a fumble as Foothills Christian forced three turnovers.

Orange Glen (0-3) did not score until the final minute, when a rushing touchdown prevented the Knights from recording their first shutout since 2022.

Senior Trevor Embleton, the team’s special-teams player of the game, converted three extra points and averaged 44.2 yards on six kickoffs.

Foothills Christian no longer looks like the team that opened the season with a 48-point loss. Over the past two weeks, the Knights have found an offensive identity, a dependable quarterback and one of the section’s most productive running backs.

STEWART EMERGING AS KNIGHTS’ OFFENSIVE FORCE

Senior David Stewart has transformed Foothills Christian’s offense over the past two games.

After rushing for 221 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries against Calipatria, Stewart added 185 yards and three scores on 17 attempts against Orange Glen.

That gives Stewart 406 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 35 carries over the past two weeks, an average of 11.6 yards per attempt.

He has produced runs of 72 and 56 yards during that stretch and has exceeded 180 yards in consecutive games.

Stewart entered the season after recording only 311 rushing yards and two touchdowns during the entire 2025 campaign. He has already surpassed both totals this fall, demonstrating that Foothills Christian’s sudden offensive improvement is built around more than favorable opposition.

With Oleson completing passes to Maisonet, Dailey and Nottoli, opponents can no longer devote their entire defense to stopping Stewart.

LOOKING AHEAD: FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN AT HAMILTON

Foothills Christian will attempt to extend its improvement Friday when it travels to Anza to face Hamilton (2-1) at 7 p.m.

The Bobcats have recovered from a 39-0 season-opening loss to Mountain Empire by winning consecutive games, including a 28-20 victory over Tri-City Christian.

Hamilton averages 186.5 rushing yards and 305 total yards per game. Quarterback Jesaiah Daniels provides its passing production, while Jerimi Brown, Kaleb Lafourche and Antonio Acuna give the Bobcats several offensive options.

The common-opponent result gives Foothills Christian reason for confidence. Mountain Empire held Hamilton to 54 rushing yards, forced three turnovers and limited the Bobcats to 157 total yards in its shutout victory.

The Knights’ challenge will be proving that their improvement travels. Foothills Christian has scored 22 and 41 points over its past two games, but Hamilton represents a stronger test than Orange Glen and is 2-0 at home.

If Stewart maintains his recent production and Oleson continues protecting the football, the Knights should have an opportunity to return from Anza with consecutive victories for the first time since 2023.