PREP FOOTBALL : Foothill Holds Off Marinovich and Capistrano Valley

Quarterback Todd Marinovich gave his new team and its opponent a scare Friday night in his debut with Capistrano Valley High School.

Marinovich left the game midway through the first quarter to have his injured left thumb X-rayed. He returned in the fourth quarter to lead a rally that fell short as the Cougars lost to Foothill, 28-26, before 3,500 fans at Mission Viejo.

Last spring, Marinovich transferred from Mater Dei, where he passed for 4,358 yards and 34 touchdowns in two seasons.

Marinovich, a left-handed junior, got the Cougars off to a quick start with a 26-yard touchdown pass to running back Tommy Adams on the Cougars’ first possession.

But on Capistrano Valley’s next series, Marinovich hit a defender’s helmet, following through on a pass, and left the field clutching his left hand. He iced the hand for the remainder of the half and then left to have it X-rayed.

“There’s a small break on the very tip of my thumb, but the doctor said it was OK to play,” Marinovich said.

That’s just what he did, returning with 8:29 remaining and narrowing Foothill’s 28-18 lead to two points.

Marinovich teamed with wide receiver Steve Lawrence on an 86-yard touchdown pass with 2:59 left and then connected with receiver Steve Poltl on a 19-yarder with only five seconds left.

When Marinovich hit slotback Brent Parker on a two-point conversion play, the Cougars were down by two. But an expected onside kick failed, and Foothill held on for the win.

“When I threw that touchdown pass to Steve (Lawrence), my thumb sure felt a lot better,” said Marinovich, who passed for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns, completing 9 of 18 attempts.

Foothill, which was dealt a 26-7 loss by the Cougars in its opener last season, was led by tailback John Fischbeck, who gained 157 yards in 31 carries and scored 3 touchdowns.

The defeat was costly for Capistrano Valley. Starting linebacker Joe Wood, another Mater Dei transfer, left the game with a separated shoulder, and linebacker John Wilson dislocated his shoulder.