Draft, Sixth-Ranked Valencia Pound Magnolia, Stay in First

Chris Draft rushed for 99 yards in 14 carries and scored three touchdowns as Valencia maintained its grip on first place in the Orange League with a 34-6 victory over visiting Magnolia Friday night.

Draft scored on a pair of two-yard runs in the first quarter and added a 27-yard run on the first play of the second half, providing more than enough scoring for the county’s sixth-ranked Tigers (8-1, 4-0).

The only team standing between Valencia and its 10th league title in 11 years is Western. The Tigers play host to the Pioneers Friday night.

“That’s the only game that counts,” Valencia Coach Mike Marrujo said. Valencia moved the ball easily in the first half and its defense didn’t break down until late in the fourth quarter, when the Sentinels (1-8, 0-4) finally broke through on a two-yard run by Tony Iliescu.

“Our first defensive unit played well,” Marrujo said. “We stuck with the second string for the fourth quarter and they did a pretty good job.”

The Tigers’ passing attack wasn’t called upon much, as quarterback Rob Petko attempted only 11 passes. He completed five for 77 yards, including a 46-yard scoring pass to Jermaine Gray, which gave Valencia a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.