By Vincent Liu
Town Crier Correspondent
For the second week in a row, the Foothill College football team’s defense made its presence felt as the Owls struggled to an 18-14 win over the College of San Mateo in their home opener last Saturday.
Entering the game ranked fourth among Northern California’s community colleges, Foothill improved its record to 2-0 with the non-conference victory.
After racking up almost 300 yards through the air the previous week, the Owls’ passing attack sputtered and was held to 113 yards. However, they may have uncovered a running force in freshman Gerald Green, who romped for 199 yards in 18 carries.
A graduate of Oak Grove High, Green would have surpassed his personal best (268 rushing yards in high school) had he not been thwarted twice on his way to long potential touchdown runs by - of all people - his teammates.
With his team trailing 14-12 in the third quarter, Green burst through the line and veered left for an apparent 65-yard TD scamper when he was bumped down by a wide receiver blocking for him. Nevertheless, the 46-yard run set up the eventual winning score five plays later.
During the fourth quarter, with Foothill holding on to a four-point lead, Green twice came up big. After a brilliant punt by the Bulldogs that pinned the Owls at their 5-yard line, Green ripped off a 37-yarder to take his team out of danger.
Later, during the waning minutes at midfield, Green swept right, leaped over a defender and had a clear lane to the end zone when he was tripped by another teammate. Three straight carries later, he ran out the clock.
Foothill coach Marshall Sperbeck didn’t seem surprised by Green’s success.
“He has the ability to break tackles and make people miss,” he said.
Both Sperbeck and Green credited the offensive line for opening numerous holes through out the game.
Calling it a sloppy win, the coach was pleased with the defensive effort of his team.
“Defense won this one for us,” said Sperbeck, who cited Justin Luettgerodt, Scott Jobe, Joe Maningo and Sione Tuipulotu for their outstanding efforts.
In passing situations, Foothill’s defensive line had the San Mateo quarterback constantly on the run and the unit registered four sacks - two by Luettgerodt.
The defense never allowed a sustained scoring drive; both Bulldogs touchdowns were set up by turnovers.
Owls quarterback Jeff Williams had an up-and-down game, highlighted by two short slant-in passes for TDs to receivers Ryan Quarles and Nate Ramezane.
The game had special meaning for Williams. He transferred to Foothill from San Mateo, where he felt slighted as a backup quarterback last season.
“I wanted to prove something and I got too excited,” Williams said. “I could’ve done better and we should’ve blown them out.”
The sophomore turned the ball over twice, fumbling away the first snap of the game and later tossing an interception at his team’s own 13-yard line. San Mateo capitalized on both turnovers to lead 14-6 in the second quarter.
The Owls’ inability to reach pay dirt in the red zone kept their opponents in the game. During the first quarter, they had a first-and-goal at the 1 and could not get six. A series later, they had a first-and-10 at the 11 and failed again. Foothill also missed a pair of extra-point tries.
But kicker Jeff Carr did make both of his field goals attempts from close range and had several booming punts, including a 59-yarder. Late in the game, under heavy pressure, he calmly let a rusher fly by him before getting off a punt to pin San Mateo deep in its half of the field.
Penalties played a major role in denying the Bulldogs a victory. They had 13 infractions called against them, none bigger than the one early in the fourth quarter when an 81-yard scoring pass was negated by an illegal-player-down-field penalty.
Foothill plays at Fresno City at 7 p.m., Saturday.
