BOTTOM LINE

The Fountain Valley Barons have been a tough team to figure out this

year, but their up-and-down season can best be characterized by one thing

that is constant: injuries.

Yes, the injury bug has continually harassed the Barons in the first

six weeks of the season, making any team continuity all but impossible.

“Injuries are always a possibility, and all you can do is coach with

the guys who are available,” Fountain Valley Coach Eric Johnson said,

devoid of any excuse. “We just have not played up to our capabilities. We

did a great job against Carson, but have been struggling since.”

At times, the Barons have been stunning, never more so than in their

17-14 victory over defending CIF City Section 4-A Division champion

Carson in the second week of the season. They also had La Mirada, the No.

1 team in Division VI on the ropes, but a fourth-quarter collapse spelled

the difference in a 35-27 defeat.

Fountain Valley’s first big blow came in the season opener against

Dana Hills, where all-league defensive end/tight end Bernard Fano

suffered a hamstring injury and was sidelined for three weeks.

Injuries also have held up the progress of several other starters,

among them, pass rush end Eric Young (shoulder), receiver/cornerback Chad

Triplett (shoulder), fullback/inside linebacker Josh Bartusick (knee),

and linebacker/fullback Robert Chavez, who suffered an ankle injury

during last week’s loss at Esperanza.

Senior Manuel Diaz, the Barons’ top receiver, has been out of action

because of a staph infection and still is questionable for Friday’s

homecoming game against Huntington Beach.