San Dimas Defense Ends Valencia’s Season, 12-9

San Dimas, which recorded five shutouts during the regular season, came within a few plays of another Friday in a 12-9 victory over Valencia in the Southern Section Division IX quarterfinals at San Dimas.

“Our defense is a great unit with kids who play with a lot of heart and great coaching,” San Dimas Coach Ted Clarke said. “This team has been overachieving all season. This was an outstanding win. It wasn’t beautiful, but it was an outstanding effort.”

The only offense San Dimas could muster all night was an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown by senior Daniel Thornton in the second quarter and two field goals by junior Scott Ehret, of 35 and 41 yards.

Ehret’s last field goal came midway through the fourth quarter to put San Dimas up, 12-7.

After San Dimas took a safety with its punter running out of the back of the end zone with 24 seconds remaining, Valencia got one last chance, but quarterback Brian Bartczak’s desperation pass to the goal line was intercepted to end the game.

The San Dimas defense forced Bartczak into bad decisions all night, sacking the senior twice, flushing him out of the pocket on a half-dozen plays and intercepting three of his passes. Bartczak completed 12 of 31 passes for 87 yards.

Valencia (9-3), which could muster just three first downs in the first half, finally came to life in the third quarter and put together a 12-play drive to the San Dimas 15-yard line.

But Saint cornerback Juan Donoso intercepted Bartczak’s third-down pass to end the drive at the 12.

On Valencia’s next drive, the Tigers marched down the field with a series of short passes and runs through the middle. Tailback Scott Parker capped the Tigers’ six-play, 59-yard drive with a 29-yard run up the middle for a touchdown to make it 9-7.

Twice in the final eight minutes, Valencia moved into San Dimas territory but one drive ended with an interception and another on an incomplete fourth-down pass.