PREP FOOTBALL : Stop! In the Name of Ray Pallares : Mother of Record-Breaking Back Thankful It’s All Over

Mike Marrujo, Valencia High School football coach, was dead set against stopping his team’s game against Savanna when Tiger running back Ray Pallares broke the Orange County rushing record.

He argued this was football. Valencia football. No stars. Just 11 guys on offense, grunting their way forward.

Ray deserved recognition, but so did the rest of team.

Still, the game was stopped.

You see, Ron Cozort, Valencia principal, can appreciate a team effort, but he also can appreciate a media event.

“The principal wouldn’t have had the game stopped if Mike really didn’t want it,” said Bill McCracken, Valencia athletic director. “I think he had some second thoughts, and I think Ron persuaded him a bit.”

Reporters and photographers lined the Valencia sideline at Bradford Stadium. Tiger fans bought up such souvenirs as Ray Pallares towels, “Run Baby Ray” and “Tonight’s The Night” buttons and Ray Pallares T-shirts just like tourists at Disneyland.

So, when Pallares set the record--typically twisting and turning on a three-yard run--play was halted and balloons took to the air. The Valencia band broke into the school fight song, that All-American ditty, “ La Virgen de la Macarena .” (It used to be “On Wisconsin” but band director Wayne Nelson said the school was looking for a song with more of a Spanish flavor.)

When it was over, Pallares finally let loose. Exhausted and nearly out of breath, tears flowed freely. That is, tears flowed freely from Lupe Pallares, Ray’s mother.

Ray was just fine. Snatching and tossing the game ball to the sidelines in one motion, he raised a fist to his family then went back in the huddle and became just one of 11 again.

But for Lupe, this was definitely an ordeal.

“When he finally broke the record I couldn’t stand it anymore,” she said, surrounded by family members. “I just sat down and started to cry.”

When it comes to her sons, emotional does not describe Lupe Pallares. Frantic might be a good start.

One game last season, when Ray was having a typically big night rushing and brother Ron, a defensive back on last season’s team, had two interceptions, one reporter noticed her in the stands and commented that he was sure she would have a breakdown.

Leaning against the Bradford Stadium press box, Lupe’s face, tired and withdrawn, showed the marks of following every yard--all 4,000-plus--and every late hit in her son’s high school career.

“I’m just glad this whole thing is over,” she said.

It ended, it appeared, in the nick of time. She didn’t look like she could have taken much more. “I’m so proud of him. I think we can finally celebrate this now.”

But unlike Lupe, most Valencia officials took Marrujo’s attitude. Ray’s record was great, but he was just a cog in the machine.

Asked about the effect of Pallares’ record on the school, McCracken said it was nice, but, of course, the Tigers also had a fine softball team.

Cozort, who made sure Pallares got his due, said the record was great, but hey, how about that Valencia debating squad?

“This school has been very successful recently in most everything it participates,” he said. “Football is a cornerstone of course. It gets a lot of publicity, but we have a lot of fine athletes here. We’re happy for Ray, but we’re proud of the whole team.”

Orange County’s Rushing Leaders

Pos. Player (School) Years Yards 1. Ray Pallares (Valencia) 1983-85 4,329 2. Myron White (Santa Ana Valley) 1972-74 4,164 3. Mickey Flynn (Anaheim) 1954-56 3,681 4. Mike Keefe (Esperanza) 1977-79 3,506 5. Damon Sweazy (El Toro) 1979-81 3,421