Western Goes to the Air, Upsets Valencia : Pioneers Turn Only 3 Completions Into TDs for 18-15 Victory

Western High School combined a strong defensive effort with three completions for touchdowns Friday night to defeat No. 4 Valencia, 18-15, in an Orange League upset at Bradford Stadium.

Western spoiled Valencia’s homecoming by keeping Ray Palleres, Orange County’s leading rusher, in check and holding the Tigers (6-2, 2-1) scoreless until the fourth quarter. By then, the Pioneers (5-2-1, 2-1) had built a big lead, thanks to three touchdown passes--the only completions Western had the entire game.

Quarterback Mike Huy connected with fullback Carl Manliguis for a seven-yard scoring pass in the first quarter and to tight end Tim Hoffman for a 10-yarder in the third period as Western built a 12-0 lead. Manliguis teamed up with wingback Jim Howell on a 34-yard halfback option touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter.

Palleres, stripped of a 66-yard touchdown in the first quarter because of a clipping penalty, was held to 34 yards in the first half. He broke free for 112 second-half yards to finish with 146 yards in 26 carries and both Valencia touchdowns.

A 15-yard loss on a botched punt attempt by Valencia set up Western’s first score. The Pioneers took advantage of a short Valencia punt to stage a 43-yard, six-play touchdown drive late in the third quarter.

The Pioneers scored again two minutes later, again cashing in on Valencia’s punting problems. Kicker Alan Harrison pulled down a high snap but was tackled by Western defensive end Rod Glover for an 11-yard loss.

On the next play, Manliguis took a pitchout from Huy and hit a wide open Howell in the end zone for 18-0 lead.

Valencia scored twice in the fourth quarter and then got the ball back at midfield with eight seconds to play. But one pass fell incomplete and Western linebacker Brian O’Neil intercepted a pass on the game’s final play.

In other league action:

Brea-Olinda 24, Magnolia 13--The Wildcats set up a league showdown against Valencia next week as they defeated the Sentinels at Brea.

A homecoming crowd of 1,900 saw Brea (5-3, 3-0) overcome a 13-3 fourth-quarter deficit by scoring three touchdowns in averting an upset by Magnolia (5-3, 1-2).

Quarterback Fred Camarena scored two touchdowns rushing and passed 22 yards to tight end Mike Knaus in the fourth quarter to bring his team back from a sloppy start.

Knaus had given the Wildcats a 3-0 lead with a 23-yard field goal in the first quarter. But Magnolia, behind the running of tailback James Hargis, drove 80 yards in 13 plays to move ahead, 6-3, on Hargis’ 3-yard run.

Brea turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions overlapping the second and third quarters before Camarena got his team going.

Magnolia quarterback Mike Tietge was held to three completions in 14 passing attempts by a tough Sentinels defense and Brea mistakes kept the Wildcats from scoring again until the fourth quarter.

Hargis led Magnolia with 81 yards on 13 carries while Camarena had 52 yards in 11 attempts for the Wildcats.

Brea Coach Bill Brown wasn’t sure why his team was flat in the first half.

“Who knows with high school kids,” Brown said. “Magnolia doesn’t have the greatest athletes in the world, but it played a great game. We’re not worried about Valencia. Any team can be beaten. All I know is, we’ll show up next Friday.”

Brown said Magnolia’s John Hangartner knows how to pick a team apart. “We knew we’d be riding the wide stuff with Hargis, and we tried to shut them down. But he is a master at mixing up the offense.

“I don’t think the kids were looking ahead to Valencia.”