ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREP EXTRA : El Dorado Runs Over Valencia, 28-7

Never in his previous 14 seasons has Valencia High Coach Mike Marrujo started 0-3.

Until this one.

El Dorado used an effective running game and solid defense for a 28-7 victory Friday night in front of 2,200 at Valencia High.

El Dorado, which hadn’t beaten Valencia in three years, successfully ran the ball inside with running back David Myers, who scored two touchdowns, and fullback Jake Ehlen. And when the Golden Hawks ran outside, they used the speed of DeLonne Kelly.

El Dorado sacked Valencia quarterback Eric Young seven times. The Hawks also limited Valencia to 101 yards in total offense and 47 yards rushing. The Hawks finished with 246 yards in offense.

“The difference was pretty simple,” Marrujo said. “They just blocked us and ran the ball well. Everything that they did seemed to work. They definitely were the better team. They just flat out outplayed us.”

Said El Dorado Coach Rick Jones, “We just believed we could do what we had to do. Valencia is a good team they played with a lot of heart, but we had confidence in our running game. That was the difference.

“We played much better than we did two weeks ago against Canyon. We made some major improvements. I was very pleased with this victory.”

Myers’ one-yard touchdown run on El Dorado’s opening drive gave the Golden Hawks (2-1) the lead with 6:56 left in the first quarter. Kelly scored on a 57-yard punt return less than three minutes later to make it 14-0.

Valencia’s lone score came on a four-yard touchdown run by fullback Julian Gomez.

But a 35-yard scoring run by Myers, who finished with 92 yards rushing in 13 carries, late in the second quarter, and a 34-yard touchdown pass from Mike Marzicola to Brandon Broughton with 19 seconds remaining in the first half broke it open for El Dorado.

Neither team scored in the second half, El Dorado ran the ball and time off the clock. Valencia only crossed the 50 once in the second half.

Valencia played without running back Jess Najera, a three-year starter. His status with the team is unknown.