Valencia Defense Stops Sea Kings

Valencia’s defense, the second-stingiest in Orange County, shut down Corona del Mar and the Tigers won, 23-15, in a Southern Section Division IX first-round game Friday at Huntington Beach High.

Valencia, which gave up 11.2 points a game in the regular season, kept the Sea Kings’ offense at bay, holding it to 135 yards.

“Our defense was on the field way too long,” Corona del Mar Coach Dick Freeman said.

Even though it was overworked, Corona del Mar’s defense kept the game close. The Sea Kings (3-8) held Valencia’s top rusher, Scott Parker, to 48 yards.

Eric Snell intercepted a pass by Valencia quarterback Brian Bartczak when Valencia (9-2) was threatening on its first drive.

But the Sea Kings went three and out. On the punt, the snap sailed over the head of punter Rory McKeever, and he ran the ball out of the end zone for a safety.

Valencia only got one first down in the opening quarter. It sustained a six-minute drive in the second, but it ended when Jason Kurtz stopped a scrambling Bartczak short on fourth down.

The Tigers finally scored a touchdown with their two-minute offense late in the first half. Bartczak got into a rhythm and led Valencia 49 yards in a minute. He finished with 257 yards passing.

Valencia’s offense broke the game open against a tired Sea King defense in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns.

“They didn’t expect a 3-8 team to be in the playoffs,” Freeman said. Valencia meets San Dimas in next week’s second round.