Racius Goes In Late to Bail Out Valley

Tom Racius, held out for most of the game, returned to engineer a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, and Valley College rallied to win a Western State Conference interdivision game over Hancock, 20-19, Saturday night at Righetti High in Santa Maria.

Racius, a sophomore from Chaminade High and the third-ranked passer in the WSC, missed practice Friday and yielded the quarterback position to Scott Collins, who took the Monarchs to an early 14-point lead.

Hancock (3-1) closed to within one at the half, then went ahead, 19-14, on the second of Jason Lee’s two field goals in the second half.

Following Armone Lochard’s 43-yard kickoff return, which put the ball at Hancock’s 39, Racius had the Monarchs (3-1) in the end zone in five plays. Antwane Smith ran in from two yards with 7:13 left.

The Monarchs weathered a Hancock ground game that amassed 318 yards and helped the Bulldogs control the second half.

Racius threw one pass during the winning march--an 18-yard completion to Kevin Carlsen.