Draft Scores Three Times as Valencia Breezes Past Northview : DIVISION VI

The wind that whipped across the Valencia High field Friday wasn’t so much of a gust as it was a draft.

Chris Draft.

The elusive running back for the two-time defending champion Tigers excelled on both sides of the ball to lead Valencia to a 28-0 first-round victory over Covina Northview in the Division VI playoffs. Valencia, which has won 10 in a row, will play Santa Fe Springs Santa Fe in the second round.

Draft’s--and the defense’s--performance helped the Tigers (10-1) overcome a mistake-filled night.

Draft made his presence felt the first time he carried the ball, scoring from seven yards out. And that was one of his worst carries in the first half, during which he rushed 10 times for 128 yards.

His most impressive display was a 64-yard run in which he broke about six tackles and went from one side of the field to the other, spinning away from his final defender.

Draft also had one of his team’s four sacks, and his teammates hounded Northview tailback Michael Jackson all night. Jackson had one 40-yard carry, but the Tiger defense still allowed only 67 yards in the first half.

Jackson finished with 12 carries for 78 yards.

“I thought the defense played reasonably well,” Valencia Coach Mike Marrujo said. “We shut them out and they got us a score.”

Really, the defense got the Tigers a couple of scores. Art Francis picked off David Fraijo’s shovel pass and went untouched, 29 yards, with 4 minutes 52 seconds left in the game to make it 28-0.

Another defensive play set up a first-half score, when the Fraijo crumpled under the tackle of Jermaine Gray on the game’s third play and fumbled at the 14. Francis recovered.

Steve Munoz carried twice, then Draft blew into the end zone from five yards. Luis Garcia added the first of four extra points.

Draft’s 64-yard score gave the Tigers a 14-0 cushion and a margin for error, which they took advantage of. Valencia committed four turnovers, including two fumbles and an interception. Valencia also allowed the Vikings to recover an on-side kick 40 yards downfield. But Valencia was better off than Northview (4-7), which turned the ball over five times.

“I wasn’t pleased with the way we played,” Marrujo said. “We were very inconsistent. We made some foolish penalties. If we expect to continue to win in the playoffs, we have to play better.

“Execution-wise, we have to get that out of our system.”

The defense made an impressive third-quarter stand, shutting down the Vikings on fourth-and-two at the Tiger seven after their longest drive of the night, 56 yards.

The offense took over over, going 94 yards on 11 plays with Draft scoring from the five.

Valencia outgained Northview, 349-135.