Sep 7, 2008

Perez-to-Royall play goes for 96 yards in win

By Greg Lydon / Daily News Correspondent

Field temperatures soared past the 100-degree mark at kickoff Saturday afternoon at Foothill College.

Fending off the intense heat and some opening-game rust, the Foothill Owls took care of business with a strong second half to defeat visiting West Hills College 30-7 in Los Altos Hills.

Sophomore quarterback Dante Perez led the way, passing for 312 yards and two touchdowns, including a record-tying connection to newcomer Anthony Royall in the third quarter.

Holding on to a 6-0 halftime lead, the Owls were backed up to their own 5-yard line after a nice play from the West Hills punt team pinned Foothill deep.

Perez handed the ball off to sophomore running back Jeremy Jordan (Menlo-Atherton), who was promptly stuffed for a 1-yard loss.

The Owls went to the air on the next play, as Perez found just enough time to get the play-action pass off to a streaking Royall down the middle of the field.

Perez took the hit from the Falcons defender, but got to watch history from the turf as Royall eluded one defender and outran the rest for a sensational 96-yard touchdown connection.

Royall, a freshman from Milpitas High, finished the day with three catches for 133 yards in his Owls debut.

"I knew the play-action would hold the linebackers and bring the safeties up. I was just hoping I'd have enough time to get the pass off," Perez said. "I knew I was going to take a hit. I saw Anthony was open and got the pass off right before I took the hit."

The 96-yard Perez-to-Royall touchdown tied the Foothill record for the longest pass play set by Ryan Sorahan and Ken Coleman in 2000.

"Its cool to tie the school record," Perez said. "My receivers put in the work before the season. It's fun to go out and make plays with them now."

Six penalties for 60 yards hampered the Owls' offense in the first 30 minutes. Sloppy execution and a tough Falcons defensive front limited the big-play offense of the Owls.

After a scoreless first quarter, Foothill got on the board right before the half with a nice play-action fake by Perez, who found Royall in the corner of the end zone for the first of two touchdown hook-ups for the lethal duo.

The PAT was muffed, giving Foothill a 6-0 halftime lead.

"We shot ourselves in the foot with penalties and turnovers in the first half," Foothill coach Doug Boyett said. "You have to play 60 minutes of football and win the game in the fourth quarter. We executed much better in the second half and got the job done."

West Hills quarterback Jake Gelakoska snuck into the end zone on a 5-yard keeper to pull his team within one score heading into the fourth quarter, but the Foothill defense, led by newcomer Jeff Thomas (Serra), shut out the Falcons in the fourth to help the home team hold on for the opening-weekend victory.

Thomas, referred to by the game announcer as "Baby Urlacher," was everywhere for the Owls on defense. He recorded five tackles for loss in his first game at Foothill.

"He's become the leader of our defense," Boyett said. "Our defense isn't the biggest, but they have bonded together and played very well today. Jeff made a lot of plays for us."

While No. 1 tailback Jordan couldn't get anything going on the ground, newcomers Justice Patterson and Nevin Gardiner both found the end zone in the fourth quarter to pad the Owls' advantage.

Foothill will travel to Visalia next week to play the College of the Sequoias.

The next Owls home game is Sept. 20 against Reedley College at 7 p.m.



Foothill 0 6 7 17 - 30

West Hills 0 0 7 0 - 7



Second quarter

F-Dante Perez to Anthony Royall 11 yd pass (PAT failed), 2:13

Third quarter

F-Perez to Royall 96 yard pass (Robin Soderblom kick), 5:31

WH-Jake Gelakoska 5 yard run (Kemar Scarlett kick), 1:11

Fourth quarter

F-Justice Patterson 15 yard run (Soderblom kick), 9:31

F-Soderblom 30 yd field goal , 6:27

F-Nevin Gardiner 44 yd run (Soderblom kick), :29

RUSHING-Foothill, Nevin Gardiner 11-74,Justice Patterson 7-51, Jeremy Jordan 8-13. West Hills,Calvin Wood 9-20,Jake Gelakoska 9-13.

PASSING-Foothill, Dante Perez 18-26 for 312 yds . West Hills, Gelakoska 13-20 178 yards,

RECEIVING-Foothill, Chris Evering 7-81, Nick Collins 5-75, Anthony Royall 3-133, Jordan 2-20.West Hills, Eric Eitson 5-25, Demetrius Larry 4-80, Julius Lloyd 2-50.