PREP FOOTBALL : Orange League : Valencia Adds Some Variety in Its Victory

Life as the Valencia High School quarterback can be pretty boring. You spend most of the time handing off to the Tigers’ star running backs, who usually gain enough yards and points by the third period to put games out of reach.

And when Coach Mike Marrujo’s teams are leading by 30 points in the third quarter, the starting quarterback is either on the sidelines cheering on the second-string offense, or in the game handing the ball off to the second-string running backs.

But Saturday night, when Valencia met Western in an Orange League game, the Tigers diverted from their normal plan.

Quarterback Chris DeRisio, who had thrown just 58 passes in six previous games, threw four touchdown passes to lead Valencia to a 28-0 victory over the Pioneers in front of 800 in Anaheim’s Handel Stadium.

At 5-foot 8-inches and 180 pounds, DeRisio has a posture similar to that of former Washington Redskin quarterback Sonny Jurgensen. And, like Jurgensen, DeRisio has a strong arm.

DeRisio, a senior, completed 9 of 14 passes for 102 yards, as the Tigers scored in every quarter. DeRisio teamed with Mike Edwards for touchdowns of 16 and 8 yards, threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Keef Leasure in the second quarter and a 10-yarder to Richard Nelson in the fourth.

Leasure, a sophomore who replaced the injured Tony Goulet last week, added 112 yards rushing in 16 carries, and senior Dorian Estes ran for 73 yards in 13 carries. The Tiger defense had little trouble recording its third shutout of the season.

“It was a lot harder than it looked,” Marrujo said. “These guys (the Pioneers) are big and physical, and we actually had to come out and do something we normally don’t do--pass the ball. I thought coming in that we had to mix it up.”

The victory improves Valencia’s league record to 2-0 (5-1-1 overall) and gives the Tigers a share of first place with Brea-Olinda and Anaheim. The Pioneers, meanwhile, are struggling.

Seven weeks ago, Western was ranked No. 1 in the Central Conference preseason poll. Now, Western is in jeopardy of missing the playoffs.

The Pioneers, who lost to Anaheim last week, 14-9, are 0-2 in league, which ties them with Savanna and Magnolia. Western Coach Jim Howell tried to shake up the Pioneer offense by replacing starting quarterback Mike Huy, who threw three interceptions last week, with his brother, junior Joey Huy.

It didn’t help. Western managed just 164 yards in total offense, and Huy was intercepted three times.

VALENCIA 28, WESTERN 0 V--Edwards 16 pass from DeRisio (Rivera kick)

V--Leasure 3 pass from DeRisio (Rivera kick)

V--Edwards 8 pass from DeRisio (Rivera kick)

V--Nelson 10 pass from DeRisio (Rivera kick)

Attendance--800

Anaheim 42, Savanna 15--With this rout in Glover Stadium, the Colonists (2-0, 4-3) are surprisingly in a three-way tie for first place. Anaheim, which upset Western last week, 14-9, is tied with Valencia and Brea-Olinda.

ANAHEIM 42, SAVANNA 15