Defense Takes Center Stage as Valencia Routs Western
Valencia flexed its muscles on defense, forcing four Western turnovers and helping to break open a close game and cruise to a 35-7 Orange League victory Friday at Valencia High.
Brad Bartczak, who returned an interception for a touchdown, Giovanni Alvarez-Mena, who had two interceptions and a fumble recovery, and Ryan Swearingen, who had two sacks, led the defense for Valencia (7-1, 3-0 in league).
Western (4-3-1, 1-1-1), which came into the game averaging 41 points per game, generated only eight yards in the second half. Sophomore quarterback Mike Hicks, who entered the game with 984 yards passing, did not complete a pass in 12 attempts and was hurried all night.
“Our defense did a pretty good job,” Valencia Coach Mike Marrujo said. “Western has some really fast kids and they’ve been a big-play team. We were hopeful that we could contain them tonight.”
Western played without leading rusher Jamiah Williamson, who is out indefinitely with a lung injury, Coach Toby Howell said. But the Pioneers were in the game for a half and led, 7-0, after Will Ruffin scored on a 23-yard touchdown run 1 1/2 minutes into the second quarter.
That was Western’s longest play.
Valencia seized control early in the third quarter after the score was tied at halftime, 7-7.
The Tigers took the second-half kickoff and marched 70 yards in nine plays to score on Sal Mora’s one-yard run to make it, 14-7, with 8 minutes 26 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Then Brad Bartczak ended Western’s next possession, intercepting a pass from Hicks and returning it 16 yards for a touchdown and a 21-7 lead with 6:49 remaining in the third quarter.
Valencia capitalized again after Western punter John Saari couldn’t handle a low snap and Mora led a host of Tigers to tackle Saari on the Western 1.
Mora scored on a run on the next play to make it 28-7 with 2:19 remaining in the quarter.
“We just shot ourselves in the foot too many times tonight,” Howell said.
Scott Parker rushed for 103 yards in 21 carries and Brian Bartczak completed 16 of 27 passes for 170 yards to lead Valencia’s offense.