By DAVID DELGADO
SPECIAL TO THE REGISTER

PLACENTIA Pacifica used a potent aerial assault led by Kyle Edwards’ three touchdown tosses and held on to beat host Valencia, 21-16, Friday night.

The opening quarter featured more punts than first downs as both teams struggled to move the chains and sustain drives. Valencia used an 11-play drive that spanned two quarters to get on the board first, as Jesse Gonzalez’s 25-yard field goal gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead.

The Mariners offense finally got going using a balanced passing attack.
A drive seemed to stall at the Valencia 10 and the Mariners lined up to attempt a tying field goal, but a Tigers’ penalty gave Pacifica a first down at the 5.

Edwards found Ryan Trader in the corner of the end zone on the ensuing play as the Mariners took a 7-3 halftime lead. Valencia was down, 14-3, but answered quickly led by backup QB Matt Ruff, who replaced injured starter Jesse Godoy at the start of the third quarter. Gabe Perez scored from the 7 to cut into the lead.

Trader helped Pacifica respond by catching his second TD of the game, this one from 17 yards. The Tigers made one last run as Reid Victores caught 12-yard TD to bring Valencia to 5 points behind.

[ Valencia - Pacifica ] Photo Gallery

LOU PONSI
REGISTER WRITER

YORBA LINDA Yorba Linda’s 21-7 Empire League victory over Valencia in front of a homecoming crowd at Shapell Stadium might not have been convincing, but it was good enough to keep the Mustangs undefeated and in first place.

The Mustangs (8-0, 4-0) now stand alone in the top spot since Cypress suffered its first Empire League defeat against Tustin on Friday. With Cypress losing, the anticipated Week 9 showdown between the Mustangs and Centurions might lose just a little luster, but the outcome should still go a long way to determining the league champion.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” said Yorba Linda coach Jeff Bailey, referring to his team’s slow start against the Tigers (1-8, 1-4). “We just didn’t execute,” Bailey said. “There are things we’ve got to get better at.” Yorba Linda fumbled the ball away on it 43 on the third play from scrimmage. But the Mustangs came away unscathed when the Tigers couldn’t convert the takeaway into any points. A 60-yard touchdown pass from Alex Bernstein to Lorenzo Ruiz gave Yorba Linda a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Bernstein’s 6-yard touchdown run made the score 14-0 in the second quarter. In the third, Valencia got on the board when Andres Sandoval returned a blocked punt 26 yards for a touchdown. Bernstein then connected with Shad Pace for a 13-yard touchdown with 2:58 left in the third quarter. A key sequence came when the Tigers, trailing 21-7, had a first-and-goal from the 5 with about nine minutes left. It came down to a fourthand-goal from the 2 when the defense stuffed QB Jesse Godoy for a yard loss.

[ Valencia - Tustin ] Photo Gallery

By PHOEBE UNTERMAN
SPECIAL TO THE REGISTER

PLACENTIA Western edged Valencia, 36-35, with a lastsecond field goal by Dylan Alamia in an Empire league game at Bradford Stadium on Friday night. The Pioneers (4-3, 1-2) leveled Valencia’s ninepoint lead in the final two minutes of the game with a 37-yard TD pass from quarterback D’Angelo McDonald to Marcus Bryan.

After Bryan’s crucial touchdown, Marcus Hayes recovered Western’s onside kick that led to its winning field goal. Hays rushed for 54 yards and one touchdown and caught for 71 yards. Valencia hit its stride in the second quarter, scoring three consecutive touchdowns and forcing three consecutive turnovers.

Defensive back Caleb Nelson recovered Valencia’s kickoff after their first touchdown, and linebacker Carlos Burboa and wide receiver Andrew Wellington recovered fumbles to facilitate the Tigers’ 21-point run, ending the first half with a 9-point lead.

[ Valencia - Western ] Photo Gallery

By FRANK BURLISON
SPECIAL TO THE REGISTER

TUSTIN Michael Lilly hadn’t played for the Tustin football team since suffering a broken right hand during a season-opening victory over Foothill on Sept. 2. Tustin coach Myron Miller couldn’t have been more pleased — and relieved — to have Lilly back in uniform No. 2 on Thursday night.

The officiating crew met briefly and then ruled that Lilly had out-wrestled Valencia wide receiver Andres Sandoval for an interception of Jesse Godoy’s fourth-down pass at the Tustin 41-yard line with 1:34 remaining in the Empire League game. Quarterback Quinnton Roberson then took four snaps and knees to secure the host Tillers’ 10-6 victory.

Miller’s team (4-3, 2-1) held a 3-0 advantage deep into the fourth quarter. But the Tigers (1-6, 1-2), after starting at the Tustin 40 with 7:12 remaining following a short punt, needed just six plays to go in front on junior Gabriel Perez’s 3-yard run three minutes later. That’s when senior running back Tyler Siudzinski — and his offensive line — went to work for the Tillers.

Facing a fourth-and-3 at their own 43, the Tillers extended the possession on an 8-yard run over the left side by Siudzinski. On the next play, Siudzinski took a pitch on the right side from Roberson, got a freeing block to get around the line of scrimmage and, with Sandoval the last Tiger within arm’s reach, sprinted unencumbered over the final 30 yards of the 49-yard score with 2:21 remaining; Adrian Hernandez tacking on the conversion.

Both Lilly and Miller conceded afterward that a loss would have eliminated the program’s postseason aspirations. “Mike Marrujo is a great coach and we knew we would get a tough game out of them tonight,” Miller said. “I thought we were controlling the game (most of the way) but we couldn’t get any points.’’ The Tillers picked up the first half’s only points when Hernandez booted a 22-yard field goal two seconds before intermission.

Roberson connected on his only completion of the half — for 38 yards to Lilly — to put the ball on the Valencia 16 with 2:52 remaining. But the Tillers were hit with a personal foul on a dead-ball situation, and then saw Roberson’s scoring run from 28 yards out negated because of a holding penalty.

[ Valencia - Tustin ] Photo Gallery

Dan Woike
OC Register Writer

PLACENTIA At 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds, Valencia junior quarterback Jesse Godoy had to battle more than the 11 Kennedy defenders on the field at Bradford Stadium on Friday night. In addition to dodging tackles, Godoy, like he does every game, had to fight off severe asthma, but even the problems catching his breath didn’t keep him from having a huge game.

Behind 241 total yards from their quarterback, Valencia picked up its first victory of the season, defeating Kennedy, 24-14. “He played pretty well tonight,” Valencia coach Mike Marrujo said. “He’s got to be consistent, but he did a really good job running the team.” Junior running back Gabriel Perez rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Valencia (1-5, 1-0 Empire League) held Kennedy to just 10 yards of total offense in the first half before holding off a late charge. “The kids really stepped it up and played well,” Marrujo said. “We made a couple of changes here and there and moved some guys around, and they really played well. “We stopped the run. That was the key thing.” Kennedy (2-3, 0-2) gained only 41 yards rushing on 20 carries.

The Fighting Irish, playing without receiver Eli Pleasant and running back Darius Miles, were able to fight back from a 17-0 deficit, closing to three points behind with 4:20 left after senior quarterback Chris Harvey’s two touchdown passes.

Leading by just three, Valencia got the ball on its 20, facing the Kennedy defense, which possessed all three timeouts. But the Tigers’ running attack, which was crucial on their previous scores, continued to move the ball down the field. Led by Godoy and Perez, Valencia went 80 yards on nine plays — all rushes — with Godoy’s 18-yard touchdown run icing the victory.

[ Valencia - Kennedy ] Photo Gallery

By JIMMY LIANG
SPECIAL TO THE REGISTER

ANAHEIM In front of a homecoming crowd filled with heavy hearts, Cypress jumped out to a 36-point halftime lead Friday night en route to a 43-14 Empire League victory over Valencia. Before the game, the Centurions had a moment of silence for Brent Ebacher (class of 2013) and recent graduate Rudy Ledesma, both of whom had died in the past week.

Cypress (4-1, 1-0) started the scoring on Vincent Rivera’s 12-yard touchdown run, set up by a Marcus Moore punt block. In addition to rushing for scores of 13 and 1 yard in the opening half, Rivera also picked up a fumble in midair and raced 14 yards into the end zone. On the play, a thirdand-26 from the 34, quarterback Chris Austin had scrambled for 18 yards before being hit from behind. Valencia (0-5, 0-1) hurt its cause with two errant snaps by the center, one resulting in a safety, as well as three interceptions, one which was returned by Kody Maldonado for a 27-yard touchdown.

The Tigers got on the board in the third quarter when Gabriel Perez scored on a 5-yard run to cap a 9 play, 36-yard drive. Levi Perez added a 7-yard scoring run for Valencia. Maldonado also hauled in a fourth down, 27-yard touchdown reception, the catch coming after the snap was dropped by Joseph Anderson. .

[ Valencia - Cypress ] Photo Gallery

LOU PONSI
REGISTER WRITER

PLACENTIA El Dorado running back Hayden Dunn and a solid offensive line were two huge reasons the Golden Hawks were able to come away with a 38-22 victory over crosstown rival Valencia in a nonleague contest Friday at Valencia High.

The Golden Hawks (2-2) won back the coveted bell from the Tigers (0-4) in a rivalry that goes back 40 years.
“It’s a big game for the community and a big game for the kids,” El Dorado coach Shawn Racobs said. Dunn rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries and scored a clutch touchdown on a 55-yard punt return in the fourth quarter to lift the Hawks’ lead to two touchdowns with 3:15 left in the game.

“Our offensive line hung tough,” Racobs said. “Those guys don’t get enough credit.” The contest started out as if it might be a rout as touchdown runs of 4, 11 and 4 yards by Dunn gave El Dorado an 18-0 lead at halftime. The Golden Hawks missed two extra-point attempts and a 2-point conversion try after the scores. In the third quarter, the Tigers made a game of it with 46-yard touchdown pass from Jesse Goody to Reid Victores and then an 11-yard scoring pass from Goody to Andres Sandoval. The 2-point conversion after the second touchdown pulled Valencia to three points behind.The teams then traded touchdowns before El Dorado took over for good.

Michael Covelli hauled in a 3-yard scoring pass from Travis Avila to put the Hawks ahead, 31-22, with 5:22 remaining in the game. Dunn’s punt return then thwarted any chance for a Valencia comeback. Avila completed 13 of 20 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Goody completed 10 of 21 passes for 139 yards and two scores.

Both teams open league play next week. Valencia play Cypress at Western High, and El Dorado plays host to Brea Olinda.
Steve Espinoza of Valencia, left, tries to catch the ball as Anthony Piscitelli of El Dorado grabs him from behind during Friday night’s game. El Dorado got the 38-22 victory.

[ Valencia - El Dorado ] Photo Gallery

LOU PONSI
REGISTER WRITER

PLACENTIA Valencia fell behind by three touchdowns against Paraclete of Lancaster in a nonleague game Thursday at Valencia High. Despite a solid second half by the Tigers, the deficit was too much to overcome, and the Spirits came away with a 35-23 victory.

The Tigers (0-3) had difficulty containing quarterback Tyler Carvalho and his legion of speedy, athletic receivers. Carvalho completed 11 of 12 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns.

Darrell Johnson, who also saw action at quarterback for Paraclete (2-1), completed 1 of 2 passes, but the sole completion was a 75-yard touchdown toss to Elijah Gutierrez which put the Spirits ahead, 21-0, late in the second quarter.

Valencia defensive end Chad Metivier tackled Johnson in the end zone late in the first half to get the Tigers their first points. The Tigers then got momentum when running back Gabe Perez ran down the right sideline for a 78-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. Tigers quarterback Jesse Godoy threw TD passes of 22 and 30 yards to cut his team’s deficit to 12.

[ Valencia - Paraclete ] Photo Gallery

STEVE FRYER
REGISTER WRITER

ORANGE Villa Park is 2-0, and there is room for improvement. But not much room. Villa Park won by a huge margin for the second week in a row with a 49-0 victory over Valencia on Thursday at El Modena High.

The Spartans last week scored on their first three possessions to beat San Juan Hills, 46-6. And for the second week in a row, the fourth quarter was played with a running clock. This year, a running clock goes into operation when a team leads by 35 points or more in the fourth quarter (and the clock stays running even if the fourth-quarter margin gets below 35).

Meki Tafuna scored three touchdowns, two on running plays and the other on a reception, and rushed for a team-high 70 yards. Quarterback Blair Boyce completed 10 of 17 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Nick Privitelli, who rushed for 125 yards last week, ran for 46 including a touchdown. Valencia (0-2) advanced past midfield only twice, with the Tigers’ deepest foray to the Villa Park 11, but a sack on fourth down ended that possession.

Villa Park scored on its first play from scrimmage, Boyce connecting with Jacob Scavuzzo on a 65-yard touchdown pass. The Spartans made it 14-0 on a 19-yard touchdown run by Tafuna later in the quarter. Villa Park scored two more touchdowns in the second quarter for a 28-0 halftime lead.

[ Valencia - Villa Park ] Photo Gallery

OC REGISTER WRITER

PLACENTIA There is a lot of optimism surrounding this year’s Brea Olinda team. The Wildcats returned 16 starters and were picked to finish third in the Century League, one year after they avoided a lastplace finish with a .500 record in the league.

Brea Olinda opened the 2011 season in fine fashion with a 45-13 road victory over Valencia on Thursday night in the opener for both. “Great to see the kids come out and execute from the get go,” Brea Olinda coach Robb Perrance said. “They came out fired up. The kids played well, and they did what we asked them to do.” Brea Olinda opened the scoring on its first possession as Josh Vizcaya went 59 yards on the fourth play for the score. Vizcaya rushed for 103 yards on 15 carries with two TDs.

After a safety, the Wildcats opened up a 16-0 lead on a 62-yard touchdown run by Nick Feamster with 3:14 left in the first quarter. Brea Olinda took a 38-0 lead into halftime. “We’ve set some goals, and a lot of these kids have already seen some time,” Perrance said. “This is a good bunch to have on the field with us.”

Valencia scored its first points with 4:28 left in the third on a 1-yard TD by Omar Padilla. The score capped an impressive 15-play, 71-yard drive for the Tigers. The fourth quarter was played with a running clock after Brea Olinda’s lead increased to 45-7 early in the fourth quarter.

[ Valencia - Brea ] Photo Gallery