Valley Offense Sputters in 23-14 Loss to Chaffey

Steve Williams kicked a 23-yard field goal with 5:16 to play and Anthony Grant recovered a fumble in the end zone on the game’s final play as Chaffey College upset Valley College, 23-14, in a Southern California Athletic Conference game Saturday night at Chaffey.

Valley (6-2, 7-2) entered the game ranked sixth in Southern California and 12th in the state after a 7-6 loss to Antelope Valley a week ago. For Chaffey (5-3, 5-4), the victory avenged a 77-12 loss to Valley a year ago.

Valley’s Barry Hanks, the nation’s leading junior college passer, fumbled on his own 26-yard line with 9:30 remaining to set up Williams’ field goal. Reed Smalley’s 17-yard run brought the Tigers to the one, but Smalley was stopped three times and Chaffey settled for Williams’ field goal after an illegal procedure penalty.

After the field goal, Valley drove to the Chaffey 32, but a Hanks pass was intercepted by Jay Lorett on fourth and 20 to seal the win.

Valley got the ball back deep in its own territory in the final minute and Hanks fumbled while being sacked. Grant recovered for the final points.

The officials ended the game with 13 seconds left when a brawl erupted after the touchdown.

Hanks finished with 292 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-40 passing. Valley played the first half without running back Dondre Bausley (injured thigh), the state’s leading rusher, and wide receiver James Reaves (injured knee). Each played in the second half.

Chaffey had taken a 14-6 lead on a 27-yard pass from John Pinto to John Chimbur with 3:35 left in the third quarter.

Valley tied the score on a 12-yard run by Bausley just before the fourth quarter began.

The Monarchs, despite 226 yards passing from Hanks, trailed, 7-6, at halftime. After drives on its first two possessions stalled in Chaffey territory, Valley took a 6-0 lead in the second quarter on a 75-yard touchdown pass from Hanks to Todd Wensley. The two-point conversion attempt failed as Hanks’ pass on a rollout fell incomplete.

Chaffey answered on its next possession, driving 57 yards in 12 plays to take a 7-6 lead with 6:23 to play in the half.

Smalley carried on four consecutive plays, including on a fourth-and-inches play at the 12 that set up Pinto’s seven-yard scoring pass to Greg Gray.

Williams’ successful conversion kick gave Chaffey a one-point lead.

A Valley drive after the touchdown was unproductive. From their own 38-yard line, the Monarchs moved to the Chaffey 13 but Robert Padden’s 30-yard field-goal attempt was blocked.