Annis Comes Through on Both Sides of the Ball for Valencia

Valencia quarterback Jason Annis passed for 215 yards and a touchdown, intercepted two passes and kicked a field goal to help the Tigers defeat El Dorado, 24-7, in a nonleague game Friday at Valencia High.

With 4 minutes 43 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Annis intercepted Mitch Nord’s pass at the Golden Hawks’ 34. On the next play, Annis completed a short screen pass to wide receiver Marquis Johnson, who scored to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead.

“Our hard work is starting to pay off,” said Annis, who also prevented a game-tying touchdown late in the first quarter when he tackled Byron Davis in the open field on the ensuing kickoff. “We played united, and it came from the heart tonight.”

Halfway through the second quarter, Annis directed a nine-play, 71-yard drive that Annis capped with a 25-yard field goal, giving Valencia a 10-0 lead.

Tiger running back Justin Lang scored two touchdowns in the second half.

Valencia’s defense, led by Carlos Perez and Sal Mora, sacked Nord five times, forced three turnovers and held the Golden Hawks to 55 total yards in the first half.

The only El Dorado touchdown was scored with 8:34 left in the fourth quarter when Nord completed a 23-yard pass play to Karel Taska.

“I’m pleased with our play tonight,” Valencia Coach Mike Marrujo said. “This was our best game of the season thus far.”