Valencia Has Turning Point in Victory Over Burroughs

Sometime in the not so distant future, those associated with the Valencia High football program are going to reminisce about Friday night.

They are going to point to the Vikings’ 41-25 Foothill League victory over Burroughs at Burroughs High and say that was what turned the program into a legitimate one.

The Vikings (6-2, 2-1 in league play) trailed 14-0 at halftime, but used an inspired second-half performance and outscored the Indians, 21-3, in the third quarter.

It gives Valencia, a third-year program, an inside track on its first playoff berth and leaves Burroughs (4-4, 1-2) with an uphill climb to the playoffs.

“This was a turning point,” Valencia Coach Brian Stiman said. “It was a major obstacle for us to get over and we passed with flying colors.”

Viking running back Manuel White got of to a slow start for the second consecutive week, but got in gear and finished with 284 yards in 35 carries. White, who had just 68 yards at halftime, had touchdowns runs of 25, four, nine and two yards.

Quarterback Brian Hamilton added 155 rushing yards, including a 56-yard touchdown, in 11 carries.

Valencia, which was outgained 126-94 in the first half, outgained the Indians, 378-136, in the second half. Stiman said it was imperative for his team, which last year lost four consecutive league games after a 4-1 start, to come back.

“I didn’t even yell,” said Stiman, who served as an assistant to the vocal Harry Welch at Canyon. “You hear stories about coaches hitting lockers, well, I can’t do that. It hurts my hand. I just told them that they are not last year’s team.”

The loss overshadowed a stellar performance by receiver Glenn Adriatico, who had nine catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Chris Santoyo completed 19 of 29 passes for a career-high 248 yards.