Merritt, Falcons run down Eldorado

Bobby Merritt scored three touchdowns Thursday as Foothill’s football team overwhelmed visiting Eldorado, 66-27.

Merritt rushed for two touchdowns and broke a 21-21 tie in the second quarter with an 86-yard kickoff return that gave Foothill the lead for good. Devon Mueller threw for three scores for the Falcons (2-3, 1-0 Southeast) and accounted for 258 total yards, while Justice Jackson and James Hagen each scored twice for Foothill. Jackson finished with 127 yards rushing on the night.

The Sundevils (3-2, 0-1) managed just 186 yards of offense but managed to stay in the game in the first half thanks to an opportunistic defense that forced turnovers on consecutive Foothill possessions. Deven Dabbs threw for two scores for Eldorado, including a 60-yard bomb to Shane Barnes, but also threw four interceptions. Marcel Hemingway ran for a touchdown and scored on a 74-yard interception return that accounted for Eldorado’s only points of the second half.