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Fountain Valley’s football team set a dubious Orange County record last season as it completed a two-year stint in the Foxtrot League.
The Barons’ losing streak in league competition reached 35 games over a seven-year period.
But this fall, the squad has shed that narrative with a 2-0 start in the Lambda League.
The success, however, is about much more than just switching leagues, coach Mitch Olson said.
“As (the players) break down all the barriers that have been obstacles in the past, I think they’re just growing in confidence about what they can do,” Olson said. “It’s huge. As a coach and with all the guys on the staff, we’ve all been on programs that have won. (The players) have not experienced it.”
“This is uncharted territory for them,” he added. “We can tell them what it’s like and what it’s going to be like, and we do our best for that, but in reality you got to experience it.”
Fountain Valley (4-3, 2-0) enters its game at Westminster (5-2, 1-1) on Friday in first place in the Lambda League.
That’s quite the feat considering the Barons went 0-5 in league play from 2019 through 2025. That included five seasons in the old Sunset League, which had been the program’s home since 1974.
Olson arrived at Fountain Valley for the 2025 season with a “old-school” mentality rooted in hard work and character development.
He also brought a proven track record to a tradition-rich program.
In 21 seasons at Kennedy, Olson guided the school to eight league titles and a CIF-SS championship in 2006. He later found success coaching at Loara.
Olson injected the Barons with confidence by playing a bold nonleague schedule this fall.
Coming off a 1-9 finish, the Barons faced four teams with a higher power rating in 2025 but opted out of its longtime Bell rivalry game with Edison.
“(We) need some time to get things going,” Olson said of not playing Edison, part of the highly-ranked Alpha League.
Fountain Valley went 1-3 in the nonleague stretch, including narrow losses to Esperanza and St. Margaret’s.
The Barons have shown their growth in league.
They rallied in second half to defeat previously undefeated Sonora 20-14 on Oct. 2.
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Last week, they beat reigning CIF-SS Division 13 champion Woodbridge 45-21.
“When you come back late in the game or when you are not playing well and then you turn it on and you show mental toughness, it just breeds confidence,” Olson said. “They’re learning that. That’s the greatest thing about football, you learn life lessons.”
Both victories showcased Fountain Valley’s rising talent.
Junior dual-threat quarterback Isaac Combs rushed for a season-high 176 yards against Sonora and passed for a season-high 336 yards against Woodbridge.
“You take what people give you,” Olson said of the Barons’ spread attack, which is coordinated by former Laguna Hills and Segerstrom coach Mike Maceranka.
Drake Robinson had a season-high 10 receptions for 161 yards and one touchdown against Woodbridge. The senior wide receiver/safety also had 13 total tackles.
“He’s (like) Garrett Sabol,” Olson said in comparing Robinson to his former standout at Kennedy. “I think the kid can go play some place (in college).”
Fountain Valley also has developed wide receiver Raymond Dillon Jr. (six TD catches) and a stout defensive front.
The defense features linemen Tanner Barlow, Shane Guzman, Christopher Reynolds, Jesus Rodriguez, Keisyn Faletoi and linebackers Braunson Khan, Drake Huizar and Trenton Farr.
Former Pacifica assistant Mike Vega coordinates the unit.
Fountain Valley is focused on Westminster while chasing its first league title since 2008.
“We want to go out and get better every week, play the best we can but we want to win the league championship,” Olson said. “For the kids, it’s a milestone that they’re doing things that haven’t been done here in a while.”
SHORT ROUTES
While a new CIF-SS rule requires at-large applicants to have at least three wins, priority in the selection process still goes to the highest-rated teams with overall records of at least .500, section assistant commissioner Thom Simmons confirmed. …
Marina running back Ben Ramos has averaged 166.5 yards on 34 carries in the Vikings’ 2-0 start in the Iota League. “Toughness and grit are ingrained in just who he is as a person,” Marina coach Charlie TeGantvoort said of the senior. “Whether it’s him working hard in football, in the classroom with his great grades, or at his job at In-N-Out Burger where he is an exceptional employee.”
Marina (4-3, 2-0) plays Cypress (6-1, 2-0) at Western High on Friday for sole possession of first place in league. …
University (4-3, 2-0) is tied with Los Amigos (6-1, 2-0) atop the Omicron League as it attempts to end the longest active postseason drought in the county. The Trojans last made the playoffs in 2015. They play host to Garden Grove (1-6, 1-1) on Thursday. …
Sophomore Brandon Edmunds, the brother of Huntington Beach QB Brady Edmunds, is starting at left tackle for the Oilers (7-0, 2-0). “He’s doing great,” Oilers coach Matthew Hatchette said of Brandon Edmunds (6-6, 245). “Still learning the position but coming along just fine.”
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