Week Zero High School Football Preview: Fountain Valley vs. Fullerton Troy
Where/When: 7 p.m. Saturday at La Habra High.
Key Barons: Sr. QB Nick Welch (In six games with Huntington Beach last year – 73 of 151 passing for 809 yards, five TDs, and six INTs; 71 carries for 230 yards and four TDs); Sr. RB/SS Benn Vallier (5-foot-11, 216 pounds); Sr. TE/DE Shane Bandaruk (6-foot-4, 230 pounds).
Key Warriors: Sr. QB/SS Mitchell Sima (18 of 33 passing for 202 yards, two TDs, and two INTs; 10 carries for 36 yards and one TD; 18 tackles, one INT, one fumble recovery); Sr. RB/SS Cole Thomas (115 carries for 542 yards and seven TDs; five catches for 33 yards); Sr. RB/OLB Austin Leocadio (89 tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery).
Breakdown: Fountain Valley is looking to bounce back from its 1-9 season a year ago. The Barons appear poised to turn the keys to the offense over to senior transfer Nick Welch, who comes over from Huntington Beach…The Barons must make strides on the defensive end too. They allowed 42.8 points per game...Troy was one of the more exciting teams in North Orange County last season, but the Warriors were hit hard by the winds of change. They lost electric running quarterback Josiah Norwood and running back Skyler Taylor…In addition, Troy begins a new era under the tutelage of Michael Echaves, who had success in his prior stop at Godinez.
Twitter: @ProfessorTurner
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