SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION VI PLAYOFFS : Top-Seeded Valencia Slams Door on Gladstone

Miss Manners would have been proud. The opposing coach was downright grateful. All because Valencia High School refused to go on a scoring binge Friday night.

Valencia, the top-seeded team in Division VI, defeated Covina Gladstone, 44-0, in a first-round game at Valencia. The Tigers’ point total could have been twice that.

Valencia--which advanced to next week’s second round against Newport Harbor, a 35-14 winner over Buena Park--is 11-0. Gladstone is 4-7. The mismatch was apparent from the start.

Consider:

--Valencia had a 23-0 lead with four minutes remaining in the first quarter.

--The Tigers scored on six of its seven possessions in the first half.

--Gladstone didn’t cross midfield until late in the second quarter, after Valencia had removed most of its starters.

“We were just outplayed, obviously,” Gladstone Coach Rick Goodwin said. “They were the best team we played all year, by far. They’re the quickest team . . . and the nicest.”

Valencia’s three running backs--Ryan Roskelly, Korey Alexander and Willie Barnes--were in fine form. Roskelly scored three touchdowns and also added an interception.

Alexander started the scoring barrage with an 87-yard run down the sideline with 9:38 to go in the first quarter. Roskelly followed on the next possession with a three-yard scoring run. Less than three minutes later, Alexander capped a four-play drive with a six-yard scoring run.

Alexander finished with 108 yards in five carries. Barnes had 76 yards in seven carries. And Roskelly added 51 yards in six carries.

Valencia quarterback Marc O’Brien, the county’s top-rated passer, didn’t get much chance to show his talents, but he still completed five of seven passes for 48 yards and three touchdowns.

Jason Secoda replaced O’Brien in the second half and performed well, completing four of five passes for 62 yards.

Valencia Coach Mike Marrujo helped keep the score down in the second half by replacing all of his starters with second- and third-string players. But, as always, he downplayed the victory.

“I’m glad we won,” Marrujo said. “Of course, I was a little worried before the game because we were seeded first and they were 4-6 and we might have been a little overconfident.”

Goodwin and his players just seemed happy the game was over.

“They were a class program, I have to say that,” Goodwin said. “At halftime I told the kids, we’re outmatched so just go out there and do your best and have fun.”

O’Brien hit Roskelly on scoring passes of five and 11 yards, and added a final touchdown on a 11-yard pass to Kevin Alexander.

Gladstone’s only bright spot was running back Anthony Robles who had 62 yards in 12 carries.