Fenwick Hopes for a Laugher : Football: After wild finish in 1993 game, Valley coach wants easier time in Orange County Bowl.

VAN NUYS — This time, Valley College football Coach Jim Fenwick would prefer his team didn’t wait until the last few seconds to win a bowl game.

The Monarchs (9-1) will face Rancho Santiago (9-1) in the Orange County Bowl at Orange Coast College today at 1:30 p.m. It will be the second consecutive bowl game for Valley, which defeated Moorpark, 21-19, in last year’s Western State Bowl at Moorpark.

In that one, the Monarchs rallied in the fourth quarter with three touchdown passes from Sean Fitzgerald to Brian Comer, the last one a 16-yarder with three seconds left.

“That’s what makes the game fun and exciting,” Fenwick said. “But it was nerve-racking.”

Comer, who this season has 71 receptions and became the school’s career leader with 129, will try to create havoc in the Rancho Santiago secondary much like he did against Moorpark. And quarterback Jim Arellanes will be more than happy to accommodate him.

The two have been Valley’s primary weapons.

Arellanes, a transfer from Northern Arizona, was the offensive co-player of the year in the Western State Conference South Division after passing for 3,483 yards--a Valley single-season and career record--and 25 touchdowns. He also set a state single-game passing record with 639 yards in a 51-37 loss to Bakersfield on Nov. 5.

With Arellanes directing the offense, Valley is averaging 475.2 yards, 15 yards more per game than the school single-season record of 460.2 yards established in 1992.

He can throw over, under and around all kinds of coverage, which should keep the Rancho Santiago defense puffing.

True, Rancho Santiago registered 43 sacks this season but the Dons, ranked fourth in the state, are allowing 235.6 yards passing per game. Coach Dave Ogas is resorting to the worn but still popular “we can only hope to contain them” approach.

“I don’t think we are going to stop them but we have to try to slow them down,” Ogas said.

No one has been able to halt Rancho Santiago for a while. The Dons, who are making their first bowl appearance since 1989, have not lost since a 55-28 setback to El Camino in the season-opener.

They won the Mission Conference Central Division behind a balanced attack (2,364 yards passing, 1,886 yards rushing) led by quarterback Simon Fuentes, the division offensive player of the year.

The Dons are difficult to defend because of their versatility, Fenwick said. The Monarchs, ranked ninth in California, must pressure Fuentes if they expect to win the first game ever between the two schools.

“He is their catalyst,” Fenwick said. “He executes that offense very well.”

Fuentes, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, passed for 1,755 yards and a school single-season record 19 touchdowns, and had a 66.7% completion rate (110 of 165). He has thrown only four interceptions.

When the Dons choose to run, however, they rely on Ernest Wilson (786 yards in 133 carries and 12 touchdowns).

Either way, Ogas figures the Dons will be able to score and so will the Monarchs.

“I think it’ll be a high-scoring game,” he said. “It’ll be entertaining for the fans.”

And also for Fenwick, as long as it doesn’t come down to a last-second desperation pass.

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