High-scoring Rams play defense, too
| Saturday, Nov 07 2009 12:06 AM
Last Updated Saturday, Nov 07 2009 12:06 AM
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Garces set up a first-place showdown with Liberty next week by denying Foothill's early upset bid then rolling to a 48-7 win at Foothill.
Jalen Sykes carried the ball nine times for 137 yards, leading a phalanx of Garces ball carriers who combined for 299 yards on 40 carries. Sophomore quarterback Philip Anspach rushed for two touchdowns and passed for a third to lead the Rams to their third consecutive game scoring 48 or more points.
Foothill seemed poised for the upset early, scoring on the game's first play from scrimmage when Roger Ruiz hauled in Ryan Rangle's pass down the left sideline, received a crushing block from Denzel Givens, then cruised into the endzone for a 7-0 Trojan lead 17 seconds into the game.
The Foothill defense forced a three-and-out on the first Garces possession, but the Trojans became their own worst enemy from that point forward.
A fumbled exchange five plays into the ensuing drive killed Foothill's march at the Garces 44. It would be the first of seven Trojan turnovers, with four of them coming in Ram territory.
Anspach's 1-yard keeper cashed in the first Foothill turnover to tie the score at 7-7. After the Trojans fumbled the ensuing pooch kick, the Rams rushed six times, culminating in the first of two Zack Puente touchdown runs.
The Foothill defense held for the remainder of the first half, but the Trojans missed a golden opportunity to tie the game when David Banda picked off Rangle's overthrown pass in the endzone early in the second quarter.
Garces turned the tables on Foothill to open the second half. After a failed onside kick attempt by Foothill to open the period, Sykes raced 45 yards up the gut to give the Rams a 21-7 lead and complete control of the game.
