Glendale Makes Final Error as Valley Survives, 20-17

On a night of eight interceptions, three lost fumbles and 157 yards in penalties, it seemed appropriate that the game-turning play in Valley College’s 20-17 Western State Conference victory Saturday over visiting Glendale was a turnover.

Glendale (0-4, 0-3 in conference play), last year’s WSC Northern Division champion, rallied for 10 points in the fourth period to tie Valley, 17-17, then launched a drive for the potential go-ahead score in the final minutes.

Vaquero tailback Bobby Webster had just picked up a big first down with a four-yard gain on fourth and one at the Glendale 36.

Two plays later, however, Webster fumbled, and Valley’s Mike O’Brien recovered at the Glendale 37 with 2 minutes 31 seconds remaining.

It was the game’s 11th turnover, the Vaqueros’ sixth, and Webster’s second lost fumble.

Valley (2-2, 2-1) could only move the ball to the Glendale 29, where Cuneyt Karacuha was called on to attempt a 47-yard field goal.

Karacuha, a sophomore whose longest field goal this season was from 44 yards, drove the ball through the uprights with several yards to spare and with 26 seconds showing on the clock.

“My heart was pumping,” Karacuha said. “I had a perfect snap, a perfect hold. As soon as my foot went through the ball, I knew the kick was good.

“It would have gone from 50 yards.”

Webster’s fumble marred an otherwise impressive effort for the sophomore back, who rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown in 29 carries and keyed Glendale’s comeback.

Glendale closed to 17-14 on Rafik Thorossian’s one-yard touchdown run and Jason Jones’ conversion kick with 11:29 remaining.

Valley backup quarterback Michael Wynn immediately threw his third interception, and Jeff Dyrek took it 18 yards to the Monarch 28. It was the fourth interception of the game for Dyrek, who had two more catches than any Glendale receiver.

Five plays later, Jones booted a 42-yard field goal to tie the score.

Valley, which held Glendale to 203 yards and just 46 through the air, broke a 7-7 halftime tie on Karacuha’s 24-yard field goal in the third period.

Ed Jones intercepted an Eric Kiesau pass moments later and returned it 34 yards for an apparent touchdown, but a clipping penalty brought it back to the Vaquero 28.

On the next play, Wynn tossed a 28-yard touchdown pass to Nigel Bostic, and Karacuha added the kick for a 17-7 Valley lead.

The first half was a parade of turnovers, three by each team.

Valley quarterback Chris Gadomski tossed a pair of interceptions before going down just before halftime with a shoulder injury.

Kiesau, making his first start of the season, threw a pair of first-half interceptions to Valley’s Jon Bodemer, and finished five of 10 for 46 yards and three interceptions before being replaced by Mike McMullen late in the third period.

Glendale scored on its first possession, marching 63 yards in seven plays and scoring on Webster’s five-yard run. Jones added the kick for a 7-0 Vaquero lead.

Valley countered in the second period after Bodemer’s second interception gave the Monarchs the ball at their 19.

Randolph Brown scored the touchdown on an 11-yard reverse, eluding Jason Stanley in the backfield and breaking two tackles before diving into the end zone.