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Foothill football coach Doug Case achieved a goal on his bucket list last month by participating in his team’s Senior Night activities.
Accompanied by his wife Sonja, Case joined about 40 seniors and was recognized before a home game. Case, who announced in the summer that he will retire after this season, gladly posed for photographs after his turn.
“It was pretty cool,” he said. “I’ve told my boosters for the last 32 years at booster meetings, ‘Hey, I’m the only person here who is not graduating. Everybody here going to graduate except for me.’ This year, I’m actually graduating.”
But Case, 61, isn’t quite ready for his commencement.
Foothill (6-5) plays host to Lakewood (7-4) in the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 5 playoffs on Friday at Tustin High.
The Knights extended their season, and one of the all-time coaching runs in Orange County, by edging host Moorpark 30-28 in the first round.
Foothill received clutch play from junior quarterback Jake Lind, who threw two TDs in relief of injured senior Gino Marchetti. Senior Brady Holcomb and Zach Schutt combined for 31 total tackles to lead the defense.
Case prefers to keep the focus on his players but admits Friday was a special victory for him.
“When you’re coming to the end, it’s always fun to try and continue it,” he said. “After 32 years as a head coach, obviously we’d love to end it off with a championship and have the storybook ending but we got to play our quarterfinal game first.”
“The kids have been working hard,” the coach added. “They want to win.”
Case’s list of accomplishments includes 218 career victories between tenures at Foothill and Rancho Alamitos, his alma mater.
The total ranks Case ninth in county history, one victory shy of tying former Irvine and Cypress coach Terry Henigan (219).
Case has led both Foothill and Rancho Alamitos to CIF-SS runner-up finishes.
In 2002, Foothill lost to Los Altos 27-10 in the Division 6 final played at Angel Stadium. And in 1993, his first season at the helm at Rancho Alamitos, the Vaqueros fell to Mira Costa 29-17 in the Division 7 final.
But away from the numerous victories, Case built a legacy of being a players’ coach and family man.
He’s been known to hug players and enthusiastically interact with them on a personal level. His participation in Senior Night certainly fit his profile.
Case credits former Rancho Alamitos coach Mark Miller for positively influencing him on how to build relationships with players.
“We talk about things,” Case said of his interaction with players. “We work things out. We explain things so they can understand and the reason why we do it this way. It’s a progression so they can understand the total picture of what we’re doing. Then we talk about legacy and how they’re developing things for next year’s team.”
Case took the reins at Foothill in 2000. All four of his children — Alissa, Jocelyn, Samantha and Carson — graduated from Foothill. He coached Carson in football.
The retirement calendar lists Case’s last day at Foothill as Dec. 20.
His future plans include visiting grandchildren and watching Carson play baseball at Chico State this spring.
And while his focus is on Lakewood, Case will depart the high school ranks feeling fulfilled that he pursued his passion of coaching for so long.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” he said. “I’m very blessed. It’s not over yet. We want to go three more weeks here at least. The team is excited to play. I’m excited to play.”
PORTOLA REBOUNDS
Portola rebounded from a Week 10 loss to Pacifica to upset top-seeded Don Lugo 31-20 in the first round of the Division 11 playoffs.
The No. 16 seeded Bulldogs (5-6) intercepted three passes, including two by junior Malachi Moore, and didn’t commit a turnover.
“We don’t let lone game against Pacifica define us,” Portola coach Peter Abe said of the 28-0 loss to Pacifica in the Omicron League championship game. “Pacifica played outstanding … (and) our boys definitely learned from that.”
Portola enters its quarterfinal at Santa Paula (7-4) on Friday with a strong running back duo of junior Timothy Grettenberg (749 yards) and Diego Reyna (604 yards).
Junior linebacker Maxwell Mapstone leads the defense with 137 total tackles.
Abe also credited his team’s challenging nonleague schedule for the victory at Don Lugo. Portola started the season 0-5 with losses to playoff teams Long Beach Wilson, Irvine, Cerritos, Beckman and Northwood.
“It definitely got us ready to play big, physical and hard-nosed games,” Abe said of the schedule.
SHORT ROUTES
The Epsilon (4-0) and Alpha (3-0) were Orange County’s top performing leagues in the first round of the playoffs. The Tango League went 3-1 for third place.
Orange County teams went a combined 25-21 in the opening round, including Sage Hill’s loss to Flintridge Prep in Division 1 8-man. …
Troy tight end Vander Ploog (6-7, 230) has switched his college commitment to Oregon from Washington. …
Los Amigos football coach Romel Guess has an exciting quarterfinal schedule this week. On Thursday, the Lobos (11-0) play host to El Rancho (7-4) at Garden Grove High in Division 11. On Friday, his son Xzavior Guess and El Modena (9-2) play at Thousand Oaks (7-4) in Division 4. …
Mission Viejo (10-0) and Mater Dei (9-0) are the county’s other remaining undefeated teams.