PREP EXTRA: SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : Valencia Gets Back on Winning Track

Valencia may have had its troubles earlier this season, but it had no problems beating Magnolia Friday night.

The Tigers scored 35 points in the first half and pounded Magnolia, 42-0, in an Orange League game before 1,000 fans at Valencia High.

Three touchdown passes and a scoring run by junior quarterback Eric Young keyed Valencia’s overwhelming first-half performance.

Wide receiver Allan Manning, who produced 28 of the Tigers’ points, caught all three of Young’s scoring passes. He added a 31-yard touchdown run in the second half as Valencia (2-6, 1-2) snapped a two-game losing streak.

“We got off to a rough start, but I think we proved we can win,” Young said of Valencia’s early problems. “We wanted to prove something tonight. I think we’ll get better as the season goes on.

“This is a great win for us because it keeps us in the playoff hunt. Manning was open all night. Everyone has been counting us out because of our play earlier in the season. I think we made a statement, and I think we’ll be better for our remaining games.”

Valencia piled up 449 yards in offense to only 14 for Magnolia (2-6, 0-3), which lost its third consecutive game. The Tigers outgained Magnolia, 264 yards to six, in the first half and limited the Sentinels to one first down.

A fumble by Magnolia on its opening series got the rout started. Three plays later, Valencia’s Julia Gomez scored on a one-yard run with only two minutes, 29 seconds gone in the first quarter.

Young added a 10-yard touchdown run with 3:03 remaining in the quarter before connecting with Manning on touchdown passes of 40, 40 and 16.

Manning had three catches for 96 yards and finished with 127 total yards.

Valencia scored on five of its six first-half possessions.

Young completed eight of 11 passes for 149 yards. He threw two interceptions.

“I’m pleased because we got a chance to play all of the kids,” Valencia Coach Mike Marrujo said.