Valencia Does It With Defense to Beat Palmdale

The defense didn’t rest. It didn’t even take a two-minute recess.

In crisp, chilly weather, Valencia High held Palmdale to 28 total yards, minus-10 on the ground, and defeated the Falcons, 13-0, in a Southern Section Division III football semifinal Friday at College of the Canyons.

The Vikings scored on a one-yard run by Charles Burnley with 4:02 left in the first quarter and left it up to the defense from there.

The Vikings added another touchdown on an eight-yard run by Colin Carey with 8:26 left in the second quarter.

“You have to play defense at this time of year,” Valencia Coach Brian Stiman said. “No matter who we play next week, we’ll have to play defense again.”

Valencia (11-2) advances to the championship for the second time in three seasons and will play the winner of tonight’s semifinal between Newhall Hart and Manhattan Beach Mira Costa at El Camino College. If Hart defeats Mira Costa, next week’s final will be at College of the Canyons. If Mira Costa wins, a coin flip will determine the home team.

Either way, Valencia has reason for revenge: The Vikings lost to Hart in a Foothill League game, 26-0, on Oct. 19 and were eliminated by Mira Costa in last season’s quarterfinals.

Valencia is 0-7 against Hart since moving to the Foothill League in 1996. The Vikings lost to Hart in the Division III championship two years ago.

“I think a lot of us want to get another shot at Hart, but we’re enthused to be in the championship no matter what,” said Carey, who rushed for 105 yards in 19 carries.

Palmdale, playing in a semifinal for the first time since 1988, was unsuccessful in getting to the championship for the first time in the school’s 45-year history.

Palmdale (9-4) had three first downs the entire game, two coming on pass interference penalties.

The loss meant the end of a Palmdale season dedicated to George McIntyre, who drowned in the Littlerock Reservoir in July.

McIntyre would have been a senior tailback for the Falcons.

“I was proud of the way the guys overcame all season long,” Coach Jeff Williams said. “We had a great run.”

Palmdale was eliminated by Valencia in the first round last season, 41-26.