PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS / THE SEMIFINALS : DIVISION VI : Late Scores End Valencia Frustration

Nothing has come easily for Valencia, the Division VI defending champion, this year. Saturday’s semifinal game was no exception.

The Tigers had to overcome their own errors and Whittier’s stingy eight-man-front defense but did enough to defeat the Cardinals, 19-9, Saturday at Valencia High.

Until the final 6 minutes 33 seconds of the game, it appeared the Tigers might not prevail. However, that’s when Coach Mike Marrujo said the turning point came.

Trailing Whittier, 9-7, Rob Petko completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Ace Riggins. The run failed, but Valencia regained the lead, 13-9.

Then in the final 1:47 of the game, Chris Draft found a rare opening and raced 62 yards for the touchdown that put it out of reach.

Valencia (10-3) plays Duarte (12-0) for the championship next Friday at a site to be determined.

“I knew Whittier would be a struggle,” Marrujo said. “They played a solid eight-man front, man-to-man defense against our offense and we knew we had to throw.

“We kept making lots of errors--turnovers and penalties--in the first half. The effort was there, but we kept making mistakes that stopped us. Fortunately we made the big plays in the second half.”

Earlier in the game, Petko completed a 24-yard pass to Jermaine Gray to give Valencia a 7-0 lead with 5:14 left in the second quarter.

Ten plays after the ensuing kickoff, Whittier’s Miguel Cervantes scored on an 11-yard pass from Bryan LaVigne. Chad Claxton tackled LaVigne on the point-after run.

With 58 seconds left in the third quarter, Whittier’s Steve Sethman recovered Riggins’ fumble at the Cardinal 35-yard line. Six plays later, Steve Olivas put Whittier ahead, 9-7, with a 35-yard field goal.

Earlier in the first quarter, Valencia’s Ben Esque blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt by Whittier’s Steve Olivas.

V--Gray 24 pass from Petko (Garcia kick)

W--Cervantes 11 pass from LaVigne (run failed)

W--FG Olivas 35

V--Riggins 23 pass from Petko (pass failed)

V--Draft 62 run (kick failed)

LEADING RUSHERS--W: Sethman 16-71; V: Draft 10-89. LEADING PASSERS--W: LaVigne 11-28-1, 145; V: Petko 6-14-1, 127. LEADING RECEIVERS--W: Cervantes 5-81; V: Gray 3-65.

Attendance--4,000.