Bauer, Valencia Beat Clock

Considering his team’s talented pool of receivers, quarterback Kyle Bauer of Valencia High said he wasn’t concerned in the least.

With the clock winding down, Bauer calmly found Nick Scott alone in the corner of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.

Scott caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Bauer with four seconds remaining in a surprisingly difficult 20-14 victory Friday night over rival Saugus in a Foothill League opener at College of the Canyons.

“That’s one of those plays where you take a shot or go for the field goal,” Bauer said about his pass on third down.

The victory capped a brilliant performance by Bauer, who completed 27 of 42 passes for 335 yards and three touchdowns.

He completed four passes on his team’s final possession, a 57-yard drive that started with 52 seconds remaining.

After having difficulty scoring against a stingy defense, Coach Brian Stiman of Valencia (5-1) said he was simply happy to walk away with a victory.

“I think the gods were definitely smiling on us at that particular moment,” Stiman said.

The coach said he still had his doubts about the outcome until Bauer threw his touchdown pass.

He was concerned because the Saugus defense had come through with numerous big plays throughout the game.

The biggest might have come when Brian Bramer recovered a fumble by Valencia tight end Derek New on the Viking 37-yard line with 3:10 remaining.

But four plays later, Saugus’ Chris Alheim was sacked by Kaelen Jakes on fourth down.

It turned out to be a frustrating ending for Saugus (2-4), which forced three turnovers.

It was especially frustrating for Saugus linebacker Jared Depaiva, who intercepted a pass and had three other near misses.

“Maybe that’s the problem,” he said. “I was thinking too much.”

In the end, it wasn’t any play in particular that cost the Centurions.

“We had plenty of opportunities,” he said. “ We just didn’t take advantage of them.”

Scott finished with seven catches for 108 yards. Will Broadous had seven catches for 110 yards and his team’s other two touchdowns and New had seven for 64.