Valencia Gets Off the Floor, 27-22

Don’t count out Valencia High just yet.

The Vikings, after losses to Serra and Chaminade in weeks three and four, showed their resolve Friday night with a hard-fought 27-22 victory over Burroughs in a Foothill League opener for both teams at Canyon High.

Not only that, but they did it with Manuel White, who entered the game with a region-high 833 yards rushing, sitting out the fourth quarter because of a sprained knee.

Burroughs, which trailed, 27-10, after fullback Ray Cassaday scored from three yards early in the fourth quarter, made a late run.

The Indians recovered a Brian Hamilton fumble at the Valencia 40 and three plays later quarterback Joe Kroells found Kyle Cremarosa for a 26-yard touchdown.

The Indians (3-3) stopped Valencia (4-2) on fourth and two at the Burroughs 27, and Kroells engineered a nine-play drive that ended with a 14-yard touchdown strike to Brian Criscuolo, pulling Burroughs within 27-22 with 1:03 to play.

Cassaday recovered the ensuing onside kick and the Vikings ran out the clock.

“This is a big game in terms of confidence for the team,” Valencia Coach Brian Stiman said. “We played well against the pass and that bodes well for the future.”

White had 118 yards and a touchdown in 17 carries, but officials, noticing White limping to the huddle after a nine-yard gain, forced him to leave the game.

Cassaday shouldered the running load in White’s absence, rushing for 73 yards and two touchdowns in 16 carries, many of those on crucial, time-killing drives.

“When Manny went down I felt Brian [Hamilton] and I had to pick it up,” Cassaday said. “I wanted him to give me the ball every time.”

Valencia, which blitzed repeatedly and had nine sacks, kept Kroells on the run, breaking his rhythm.

“Our quarterback was running for his life,” Burroughs Coach Keith Knoop said.

Kroells completed 16 of 26 passes for 237 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Cremarosa caught seven of those passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. Keith Jarbo had four catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.