Passing Through, Arrellanes Makes Mark for Valley : Orange County Bowl: He wraps up banner season by setting four records in 36-28 victory.

Any other ending to this football season would have been unfitting for Jim Arellanes.

The record-setting quarterback for Valley College was spectacular Saturday as he led the Monarchs to a 36-28 victory over Rancho Santiago in the Orange County Bowl at Orange Coast College.

“I can’t say enough about Jim Arellanes,” said Jim Fenwick, Valley coach.

Arellanes, a 6-foot-4 sophomore transfer from Northern Arizona, set four Orange County Bowl records to cap a remarkable campaign with the Monarchs.

He was 26 of 38 for 425 yards and five touchdowns. The completions, yardage and touchdowns set game records.

Arellanes, who was named the player of the game, also set the game record for total yards with 402 (minus-23 yards rushing). He finished his only season for the Monarchs with 3,908 yards passing and 30 touchdowns, both Valley single-season and career records.

It was the second consecutive bowl victory for the Monarchs (10-1), ranked ninth in the state. They beat Moorpark, 21-19, last season in the Western State Bowl. Rancho Santiago (9-2), ranked fourth, had won nine consecutive games.

The Monarchs unleashed their explosive run-and-shoot attack and scored three touchdowns through the air within a 1-minute 33-second span early in the third quarter to pull ahead for the first time after a 7-7 tie at halftime.

After tailback Ernest Wilson dived into the left corner of the end zone on a nine-yard run to give the Dons a 14-7 lead with 13:35 to play in the third quarter, Arellanes answered quickly.

On second and 10 from the Rancho Santiago 28-yard line, Arellanes found David Eastham in the right flat and the receiver bolted for a 72-yard touchdown to tie the score, 14-14.

The two combined for another score on a 10-yard pass play with 11:51 remaining in the quarter to give the Monarchs their first lead, 21-14.

Eastham (nine receptions for 148 yards) caught the ball in the end zone even though Rancho Santiago free safety Steve Hoalton knocked off Eastham’s helmet.

Fourteen seconds later, after Valley linebacker Manu Langi intercepted a pass by quarterback Simon Fuentes and returned it 10 yards to the Rancho Santiago 25, Arellanes hit Brian Comer on first down for a 25-yard touchdown to make it 27-14.

Comer, Valley’s all-time reception leader with 139, set a game record with 205 yards receiving and tied another with 10 catches. The touchdown, his second of the game, gave him 15 this year, a school single-season record.

“We didn’t make any big adjustments (at the half),” said Arellanes, who set a state single-game record with 639 yards passing against Bakersfield on Nov. 5.

Wilson, who led the Dons with 95 yards in 26 carries, pulled Rancho Santiago to within 27-21 late in the third quarter on a one-yard run.

After a 42-yard field goal by Valley’s Tim Cronk, Wilson scored midway through the fourth quarter on another one-yard plunge to cut Valley’s lead to 30-28.

Valley then went on an 80-yard drive to score on a seven-yard pass from Arellanes to Cameron Perry with 2:48 left. The drive was aided by a pass-interference call on third and 32 when Davis Delmatoff threw a halfback-option pass to Comer.

The Monarchs allowed 422 yards, including 268 yards passing by Fuentes (24 of 34), but came up with big plays in key situations.

They sacked Fuentes four times--strong safety Chris Shinnick did it twice--and intercepted one of his passes. Monarch outside linebacker Robby Proffer had 14 tackles.

Valley started the game slowly, giving up a touchdown on Rancho Santiago’s first possession--an 11-yard pass from Fuentes to Ace Riggins that culminated a 73-yard, 10-play drive.

The Monarchs wasted an opportunity after a shanked kick by Casey Wilson on the ensuing kickoff gave them the ball at the 50-yard line. Rancho Santiago strong safety Andre Holmes blocked a 34-yard field-goal attempt by Cronk.

They finally got into the end zone with 1:11 left before the half on a 20-yard pass play from Arellanes to Comer to tie the score, 7-7.