West L.A.’s Paul Scrambles Valley

There was no telling what would happen after Bryan Paul took the snap from center Saturday night at Valley College.

Three times, Paul, West L.A. College’s scrambling quarterback, backpedaled so far his completions went for losses.

Once Paul was whistled for intentional grounding. Once he retrieved a bad snap in the end zone and threw for a first down.

But Paul’s passing and play-making made the difference for West L.A., which came from behind to defeat Valley, 29-21, in a Western State Conference Southern Division opener.

Paul, a former Moorpark High standout and a backup at Valley last season, returned to haunt his former team, completing 25 of 43 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns.

Paul threw most of his passes after sidestepping a fierce pass rush. He had gains of six and 11 yards, and set up a second-quarter touchdown by catching a pass from running back Raymont Skaggs for a 46-yard gain. Paul handed the ball to Skaggs, then drifted into the flat.

“We put that play in this week,” Paul said. “You always need a trick play every week.”

Paul’s four-yard touchdown pass to Skaggs gave the Oilers (5-1) a 29-21 with nine minutes to play. Greg Debolt’s 19-yard field goal midway through the third quarter gave West L.A. a 22-21 lead.

Valley (4-2), which scored all its points in the second quarter, was driving at the West L.A. eight-yard line with eight seconds to play when quarterback Tom Racius was sacked and fumbled and the Oilers recovered.

Racius completed 17 of 25 passes for 188 yards and 1 touchdown.

“Valley is a good team and they’re always going to come back,” Paul said. “They put a lot of pressure on me. That’s how most of the games have been.”

The Monarchs used some razzle dazzle to score again on their next possession. Racius pitched to Hackett, who lofted a long spiral to a streaking Randall Lane that went for a 59-yard touchdown.

West L.A. pulled to within 21-19 by halftime, thanks to key plays that involved Paul.

Paul handed the ball to Skaggs at the Valley 47, then caught a swing pass in the flat and rambled to the one-yard line. Marco Pleas ran for a touchdown on the next play.

With 20 seconds left in the half and West L.A. facing a third and 27 at the Monarchs’ 44, Paul lofted a bomb that Tony Griffin caught while tumbling into the end zone.

* INSIDE: Ventura defeats still winless Pierce, 29-22. C13