Foresthill running back Colton Rhone turns it upfield after getting the handoff from quarterback Dave Whitsett (4). Rhone had 37 rushes in the game for 124 yards and one touchdown as the Wildfires defeated Sierra Ridge/Right of Passage 24-12 in a non-conference tilt, Oct. 2. www.bridgetsfotos.com
Wildfires Put Away Sierra Ridge, 24-12
SEBASTIAN STADIUM - In a solid show of running power and defense, Foresthill High School put away Sierra Ridge/Right of Passage (1-3), 24-12, Oct. 2.
Just when it appeared the Rams might make a comeback in the final period, Wildfires' quarterback Dave Whitsett broke into the Sierra Ridge secondary and ran for a 62-yard touchdown to seal the game with 1:43 remaining on the clock.
“It was supposed to be a 6-10-yard run,” said Whitsett following the game. “It was a quarterback sneak.”
Trailing 17-6 with less than two minutes to go, the Bighorns drove in for a score. But it proved to be too little too late, and Whitsett's scamper ended all hope of a Sierra Ridge rally.
The Wildfires appeared well on their way to an easy victory in the first half leading 10-0 with the ball deep in Rams' territory with less than a minute to go.
Foresthill had recovered a Sierra Ridge fumble and was anxious to pad its lead before time ran out. But an errant pass quickly changed things as SR's Jontee Lee intercepted at his 10 and sprinted 90 yards down the sideline for six.
However, the `Fires came out strong in the third stanza as Tommy Young broke tackles and blew by the visitors for a 28-yard touchdown run. Christian Addington kicked the extra point to put Foresthill up 17-6 with 6:38 showing on the Worton's Market scoreboard. Addington also had a 31-yard field goal and a total of three point-after kicks to his credit.
Colton Rhone got things going for Foresthill when he took it into the end zone from a yard out halfway through the first quarter. His scoring plunge was set up by Whitsett who rambled 25 yards to the Sierra Ridge one on the previous play.
It was Foresthill's third-straight win following their opening loss to Brookside Christian, Sept. 11.
Foresthill will host Valley Christian, Friday, in their Sacramento Metro Athletic League opener. It has also been billed as the Wildfires' Homecoming game and should be a good one. The Lions edged FHS in a close one last year, but lost to Sierra Ridge two weeks ago, 18-14. Vacaville Christian.
Foresthill JV 16 Marysville 14 - The Wildfires rallied to score in the third quarter, and broke up a Marysville extra-point attempt to come away with a hard-fought victory, 16-14.
Foresthill's defense was solid, as the Indians could not get anything going in the second half. The `Fires Nick Vasquez was relentless in his pursuit of Marysville's quarterback causing him to hurry his passes.
Tyler Giles tied the game with a 5-yard scoring run, and Braeden Eldredge hit Wes Archbold for the 2-point conversion and margin of victory. Foresthill took the early lead on a Travis Wilburn interception a score; Tom Sawyer connected with Archbold for the point after.
The JV `Fires are scheduled to ravel to Vacaville for a game against the Falcons, Oct. 23, 5 p.m. kickoff.
_ Written by Jim Linsdau