Foothill overpowers Aquinas in first round of CIF-SS football playoffs
The Knights top an Aquinas team that had won five in a row.
Foothill’s Aaron Mitchell chews up ground In a game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
TUSTIN – Aaron Mitchell and the Foothill offensive line teamed up for Mitchell’s 197 yards rushing and four touchdowns Thursday as the Knights defeated Aquinas 35-22 in a CIF Southern Section Division 5 first-round playoff game.
Foothill’s win on their home field at Tustin High moves the Knights (7-4) into next week’s second round. They will play the winner of Friday’s Ventura-Newbury Park first-round game.
Aquinas’ Malachi Jones is sacked by Foothill’s Gavin Cowdell In a game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Connor Pietras looks to break free from a defender In a game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Aquinas’ Yaqiym Halliburton, left, has a pass broken up by Foothill defender, William May, right, In a game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Aquinas’ Jusyis Solis tries to escape the Foothill defense In a game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Aquinas’ Yaqiym Halliburton hauls in a pass In a game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Aaron Mitchell chews up ground In a game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Aaron Mitchell, left, leaps in celebration of a touchdown with William May, right, In a game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Aquinas’ Yaqiym Halliburton, left, celebrates a touchdown In a game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Aaron Mitchell hits a hole In a game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Aquinas’ Jusyis Solis looks for room to run In a game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Aaron Mitchell heads for a big gain In a game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Aaron Mitchell, right, is wrapped up by Aquinas’ Marcus Mcgeilberry, left, In a game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
An inbound flight flies over the Foothill stands In a game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Kayla Ortiz, color guard leader warms up before the game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Annette Francis warms up on her euphonium before the game between Aquinas vs. Foothill in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 5 football playoffs at Tustin High on Thursday, November 2, 2023. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)
Mitchell scored the Knights’ first four touchdowns. Their fifth touchdown was on a Mitchell running play, but he fumbled the ball just before crossing the goal line and offensive lineman Ryan Worden recovered the ball in the end zone.
Mitchell finished with 28 carries and scored on runs of 3, 1, 2 and 38 yards. Mitchell (5-9, 180) went into this week averaging 115 rushing yards a game and his 1,149 yards was seventh-most in Orange County.
His season-high is 220 yards rushing in a win over Esperanza.
Foothill’s offensive line of Worden, Brandon Venegas, Isaiah Vizcarra, Brayden McIntyre, Anthony Uribe and tight end Porter Elms consistently created openings for Mitchell.
Foothill’s offensive line, which played well in the Knights’ win over Aquinas on Thursday, from left: Brayden McIntyre, Anthony Uribe, Ryan Worden, Isaiah Vizcarra and Brandon Venegas. (Photo by Steve Fryer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
“They did a great job of controlling the line of scrimmage,” said Foothill coach Doug Case. “And Aaron went off like he always does.”
Aquinas (7-4) had won six in a row including a 5-0 run through the Ironwood League going into Thursday’s game.
Foothill recovered an Aquinas fumble on the opening kickoff. Knights senior C.J. Sims covered the ball at the Aquinas 27-yard line. From there Mitchell carried on all six Foothill plays including a 3-yard touchdown run.
Aquinas tied the game with 5:47 left in the first quarter on a 15-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Malachi Jones to senior receiver Yaqiym Halliburton. Halliburton had seven receptions for 113 yards in the first half.
Foothill scored on its following possession. Mitchell scored on a 1-yard dive to complete a nine-play, 67-yard drive for a 14-7 lead.
Mitchell scored on a 2-yard with 9:13 remaining in the half to make it 21-7. That would be the halftime score.
Mitchell rushed for 111 yards on 18 carries in the first half.
Foothill was on offense to start the third quarter. Mitchell scored on a 38-yard burst through the middle of the Knights’ line for a 28-7 lead.
After a William May interception returned possession to Foothill, the Knights drove to the Aquinas 2. Mitchell took a handoff and just as he was about the cross the goal line Aquinas forced a fumble. The ball popped into the end zone and Worden plunged on it for the touchdown and a 35-7 lead.
Aquinas scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes on runs of 1 and 8 yards by Champ Brown.
Aquinas junior quarterback Malachi Jones competed 19 of 32 passes for 211 yards and the touchdown to Halliburton, who finished with 11 receptions for 156 yards. Junior running back Jojo Solis, averaging 134 rushing yards a game, was held to 54 yards on 10 carries.
“I was proud of the defense tonight,” Case said. “I told them all along that if we’re going to do anything in these playoffs we’re going to have to start playing better defense.”
