Fontana Rumbles Past Ocean View, 38-0

Fontana High School Coach Dick Bruich must be wondering what would happen if his first string had the opportunity to play an entire game.

For the second consecutive week, the Steelers rolled up some impressive numbers in the first half, let the reserves get some playing time in the second half and still managed to shut out another opponent.

Fontana rolled to an easy 38-0 victory over Ocean View Friday night before 5,000 fans at Huntington Beach. The Steelers have totaled 72 points in two games, and even more impressive, they have scored 65 points in the first halves.

The Times’ second-ranked team amassed 247 yards and limited Ocean View to only six yards in the first half en route to a 31-0 lead. Bruich kept his starters in the game for three plays in the second half before clearing his bench.

Nigel Clay, a 6-4, 240 pound tackle, and Ray Wood, a 6-3, 230-pound guard, anchored an offensive line that allowed the Steelers to gain 205 yards rushing in the first half. Tailback John Kidd gained 130 yards on 14 carries in the half and is averaging 11.4 yards per carry in two games.

“Fontana is an excellent football team and we knew that going into the game,” Ocean View Coach Karl Gaytan said. “I was disappointed that we didn’t give them a better game. Hopefully, we learned from the game and won’t let it destroy us.”

There was little for Ocean View fans to cheer about. The Seahawks didn’t get their initial first down until 7:27 was left in the third quarter as the Steelers showed they can play defense equally as well as offense.

Fontana scored on four of its opening five possessions and even managed to rub it in with a 42-yard field goal by Kenny Gonzales with three seconds left in the first half, moving Fontana ahead, 31-0. You want domination? The Steelers didn’t punt until there was only 3:42 left in the third quarter.

“I thought we were pretty good in the first half,” Bruich said. “Honestly, I thought Ocean View would be better defensively. I didn’t think we could run on them the way we did. I couldn’t tell you if this team is on par with last year’s team because we haven’t gotten to play a full game yet.”

Of course, it might help if Bruich had a decent schedule. The Steelers won’t play a tough team until their 10th and final game of the regular season when they face fourth-ranked Riverside Poly in the Citrus Belt League finale. Until then, it looks like Bruich is going to have to be content with what he gets in the first half.