Barons Able to Overcome 32-Point Rally

LAKEWOOD —  Fountain Valley subdued Lakewood for three quarters, then survived a 32-point, fourth-quarter surge to win, 52-38, Friday at Lakewood High.

The Barons (2-0) held Lakewood (0-2) to 55 first-half yards, then 12 in the third quarter, while taking a 44-6 lead.

Quarterback Scott Bartoni completed 13 of 20 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns, and scored on an 11-yard run.

Bartoni threw an eight-yard pass to Jamil Hills and a six-yarder to Brandon Leimbach to give the Barons a 14-0 first-quarter lead, during which Fountain Valley held Lakewood to 11 total yards.

In the second quarter, Jeremy Meltebarger kicked a 43-yard field goal and John Harcar scored on a 22-yard run to give the Barons a 22-0 lead. Lakewood, which had until then not made it past midfield, scored with 51 seconds left in the half on a two-yard run by Eric Grace.

But Joey Rozek took the ensuing kickoff 78 yards for the final touchdown of the second quarter.

Harcar scored his second touchdown from 19 yards out, and Bartoni ran in from the 11-yard line with 1:35 left in the third quarter.

Lancer LaRoy Thomas scored from the 35 at the start of the fourth quarter, and Lakewood quarterback Marquis Nave, returning with 4:56 left in the game after a two-quarter rest, threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Snyder.

The Lancer on-side kick was tipped by Fountain Valley but recovered by Lakewood. On the next play, Nave ran 42 yards up the middle to score, cutting Fountain Valley’s lead to 44-30.