Valencia’s Worried Coach Has Cause to Be Encouraged : High schools: Mike Marrujo lost 18 starters from last year’s Division VI title team, but Tigers open season with a 38-21 victory over Villa Park.

There was actual concern in Mike Marrujo’s voice. What else is new?

But this time, Marrujo--Valencia football coach and well-known pessimist--had actual reasons to be worried. The Tigers, after all, had lost 18 starters from a team that won the Southern Section Division VI title a year ago.

After a 38-21 victory over Villa Park on Friday at Valencia, Marrujo was full of cautious optimism.

“Villa Park has a very good team,” Marrujo said. “I was very pleased with the way we played.”

From the stoic Marrujo, that’s a downright glowing endorsement. But then, he had a lot to be pleased with.

“We still have some holes to fill,” Marrujo said.

At least two of them have been plugged.

Sure, the Tigers lost running backs Willie Barnes and Ryan Roskelly--a pair of 1,000-yard rushers--to graduation. Out they go and in come Chris Draft and Ace Riggins.

On the second play, Riggins swept left, then bolted upfield for a 65-yard touchdown run.

“It went by by so fast, I don’t really remember it,” Riggins said.

He finished with 107 yards.

But even Riggins’ performance was overshadowed by Draft, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound junior. He finished with 187 yards, pummeling defenders in his path.

Draft scored three touchdowns, the last of which covered 58 yards. He started out to his right, but found no opening, reversed his field and went untouched for the score.

It gave the Tigers a 38-21 lead with 7 minutes 50 seconds left.

“I felt my leg cramp up when I turned around, but there was nothing but open field that way, so I just kept running,” Draft said. “Man, my leg hurt after.”

Draft also scored on a one-yard run and a nine-yard run during which he ran over two would-be tacklers and dragged four others.

“(Draft and Riggins) are very comparable to the backs we’ve had here,” Marrujo said.

On the rare occasions the Tigers had to throw the ball, quarterback Rob Petko was more than up to the task.

He completed four of seven passes for 80 yards and threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Mike Mebane, who made a leaping catch between two defenders.

Villa Park was able to keep up for part of the game. Running back Grant Pearsall, who was substituting for the injured Ryan Tsui, did most of the work. He scored two touchdowns in the first quarter to keep the Spartans even, 14-14.

Pearsall, who gained 125 yards, scored on a 46-yard run and a 98-yard kickoff return.

But Valencia wore the Spartans down in the end.

“It was only one game,” Marrujo said.