Valley Builds Big Halftime Lead Behind Carter, Then Coasts, 27-14

Compton College, playing its first night football game of the season, looked like the Not Ready for Prime Time Players in the first half Saturday at Valley.

Valley, meanwhile, rolled to a 27-0 intermission lead, then coasted to a 27-14 victory in a Western State Conference Southern Division opener for both schools.

Valley (4-2, 4-1 in conference play) substituted liberally in the second half, and Monarch Coach Chuck Ferraro was not particularly concerned that his team was outscored, 14-0, in the second half and outgained, 177 yards to 64.

“It’s a division win, that’s what counts,” Ferraro said.

Sophomore tailback Roman Carter, from Kennedy High, led Valley, rushing for 3 touchdowns and 114 yards in 17 carries.

Carter, the WSC’s fourth-leading scorer, has rushed for 9 touchdowns this season.

Monarch quarterback Todd Studer connected on his first 8 passes and finished 8 of 11 for 63 yards.

Valley tight end Sean Brown caught 6 passes for 63 yards.

The first half was a nightmare for Compton as Valley dominated every facet, rolling up 226 yards (165 on the ground) to 57 for Compton.

Carter burst off tackle 5 plays into the game for a 39-yard touchdown, then scored on a 12-yard run on Valley’s next series.

Jim Harper booted field goals of 38 and 37 yards to extend Valley’s lead to 19-0 with 14:07 left in the second period, then Carter tacked on a 2-yard touchdown run just before halftime. Studer ran for the conversion to put the Monarchs ahead, 27-0.

Carter led all rushers at intermission with 85 yards in 10 carries.

Studer connected on all 6 of his passes in the first half for 61 yards. Brown caught 5 of them for 58 yards.

Compton (1-5, 1-4) was a changed team in the second half. The Tartars marched 67 yards and scored on quarterback Damone Scott’s 1-yard run with 13:13 to play but missed the extra point and trailed, 27-6.

On their next possession, the Tartars marched 61 yards, scoring on Henry LeBlanc’s 2-yard run. Scott ran for the conversion, and Compton trailed, 27-14, with 5:16 remaining.