PREP EXTRA / SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Valko’s Wish Comes True as La Quinta Wins

La Quinta not only defeated Aliso Niguel, 14-7, Friday night, but the Aztecs helped Coach Fred Valko’s wish come true: “We just have to get into the end zone,” Valko said before the game.

After 42-0 and 31-0 losses to Westminster and Estancia in the season’s first two games, La Quinta didn’t waste any time Friday scoring its first points of the year.

Greg Alejandro ran the opening kickoff 79 yards to Aliso Niguel’s one-yard line. Three plays later, Larry Tiger scored, 95 seconds into the game.

With 33 seconds left in the half, La Quinta added a touchdown on a three-yard pass from C.J. Livernois to James Nguyen, capping a seven-play drive. The drive started when La Quinta’s Mike Daniels recovered Joe Valenti’s fumble on Aliso Niguel’s 25-yard line.

Aliso Niguel threatened just before halftime when Scott Nemeth connected with Valenti on a 45-yard pass to La Quinta’s 32-yard line with five seconds remaining. Nemeth’s first-down pass fell incomplete at the gun.

The only other score came with just over six minutes to go in the game. Valenti ran it in from the nine on fourth and three. Aliso Niguel was aided by a pass interference call that gave the Wolverines a first down at the 15-yard line.