HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : CENTRAL CONFERENCE : Valencia vs. Bolsa Grande

High school football programs being what they are--constantly in transition--it’s interesting to note that Bolsa Grande and Valencia have shown a remarkable penchant for consistency.

Valencia has been consistently good, Bolsa Grande hasn’t.

Valencia has won four straight Orange League titles and appeared in the Central Conference semifinals three of the past four years. Coach Mike Marrujo is 51-19-3 since he took over in 1981.

But as Valencia has risen, Bolsa Grande has for the most part been caught in a holding pattern of one- and two-victory seasons.

“We can’t really talk about tradition around here,” Bolsa Grande Coach Greg Shadid said. “We don’t have one.”

But Bolsa Grande could change all of that Friday night. The Matadors play Valencia in the Central Conference championship game at 7:30 at Orange Coast College.

It is the first appearance for either school in a conference championship game. That Valencia has not appeared in the final before has been a surprise.

Over the past three seasons, the Tigers have had players such as running back Ray Pallares, the state’s all-time leading rusher, and have been seeded first in the conference playoffs several times only to meet with disappointment.

This season, Pallares is gone, top running back Tony Goulet was lost with a leg injury in midseason and the usually huge Valencia offensive line is now referred to as “the Pygmies,” by Marrujo.

“It just shows that if a bunch a kids get together and decide they’re going to do something, they can work wonders,” Marrujo said.

Goulet was injured when Valencia played Bolsa Grande. Actually, Valencia played, Bolsa Grande just sort of absorbed punishment. The Tigers scored 23 points in the first quarter and a half and went on to win, 33-10.

“We were out of the game before we were done stretching,” Shadid said.

Without Goulet, the Tigers gave the ball to Dorian Estes, who rushed for 117 yards and scored 3 touchdowns. Since the Valencia offense is so tilted toward the run, Estes emergence as an offensive weapon was critical.

Quarterback Chris DeRisio has been in good in spots, and not so good in others. In the Tigers’ semifinal win over Sunny Hills in double overtime, DeRisio completed just 2 of 18 passes before throwing 2 touchdown passes to help Valencia to the win.

Bolsa Grande’s offense also depends heavily on the run. The all-junior backfield of running backs Travin Lui and Ricky Lepule and quarterback Damon Fisher, have operated the veer option impressively all season.

But Shadid said the Matadors may throw the ball a bit more against Valencia. That can be dangerous. Valencia has 28 interceptions as a team this season.