SOUTHERN SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Valencia Beats Sierra Vista, 34-9 : Division VI: Marc O’Brien runs for two touchdowns and passes for a third, and Tigers shut down top running back.

Marc O’Brien scored two touchdowns on quarterback draws and completed a scoring pass in Valencia High School’s 34-9 victory over Sierra Vista in a first-round Southern Section Division VI football playoff game Saturday at Valencia’s Bradford Stadium.

Valencia (10-1), the No. 8 team in Orange County, plays No. 6 La Quinta (11-0) next week in the second round. La Quinta defeated Buena Park, 25--22, Friday night.

O’Brien scored on runs of two and four yards with 3:38 left in the second quarter and 6:21 left in the game. He completed six of 11 passes for 157 yards, including a 76-yard pass to Korey Alexander with 9:53 to play.

“O’Brien hit some good passes in the second half to get us going,” Valencia Coach Mike Marrujo said.

Valencia’s defense did a good job containing Sierra Vista’s premier running back, Joe Rubalcaba. Rubalcaba, who entered the game with 1,662 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns in 244 carries this season, was held to 22 yards in 20 carries. He gained 17 of that in the first half.

The Tigers’ running game, led by Willie Barnes (89 yards, 17 carries) and Ryan Roskelly (75 yards, 12 carries), totaled 214 yards, and their defense held Sierra Vista to 28 yards.

“Our defense played well from the beginning; they really swarmed to the ball,” Marrujo said.