Valencia Makes History
Maybe the performance of the year came Friday in Valencia’s 29-10 victory over Newhall Hart, which ended the Indians’ 65-game Foothill League winning streak, the third-longest in state history.
An often-overlooked Viking defense brought a revered offense to a standstill. Hart quarterback Tyler Lyon had three passes intercepted and was sacked nine times, with outside linebacker Anthony Defilippo getting credit for 4 1/2 .
A year ago, the Vikings were known for their porous defense. In fact, they blew a 28-7 lead against Hart, losing 42-35.
The linebacking corps has been a big reason for the defense’s reversal of fortune, and it starts with middle linebacker Torrey O’Brien (5 feet 11, 220 pounds).
“It works outward from there,” said Valencia Coach Brian Stiman, referring to Defilippo (5-11, 185) and another outside linebacker, Gary Cox (5-11, 205).
“They play very big,” Stiman said. “Their toughness, knowledge of the game and speed with which they play has changed the way we play defense this year.
“They have a very astute understanding of what the other team is doing. During the course of the week, they probably spend as much time on film as we [coaches] do. And, they’re fearless.”
Valencia returned six starters from last season, including cornerback Michael Robotham, defensive end Kenny Kallen and defensive tackle Rob Greenwald, a converted defensive end.
In successive years, Valencia’s defense had given up, on average, 19.3, 20.1 and 22 points per game. This season, it has given up only 11.9.
Going into its home game Friday against Canyon Country Canyon (8-0, 3-0), ranked No. 20 in the Southland by The Times, the only blemish for No. 6 Valencia (7-1, 3-0) was a 33-3 loss to No. 2 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in Week 5.
“The defensive effort all year has been one of the best I’ve seen in school history,” Stiman said of the school that is in its eighth season of varsity football.
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The Moore League title gets decided Friday, when No. 4 Long Beach Poly (7-1, 4-0) plays at No. 5 Lakewood (8-0, 4-0). If defense wins championships, Lakewood’s the pick.
Only twice this season have the Lancers given up more than seven points, and they have yet to give up more than 18. Poly has given up 20 points or more four times, but against a more robust group of opponents.
Among other titles at stake this week between teams with unbeaten league records:
* South Coast: No. 22 San Clemente (7-1, 3-0) at No. 1 Mission Viejo (8-0, 3-0).
* Golden: No. 16 Palmdale (6-2, 3-0) at Lancaster (7-1, 3-0).
* Bay: Redondo (7-1, 3-0) at Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula (7-0-1, 2-0-1).
* Marine: Harbor City Narbonne (7-1, 3-0) at Carson (5-3, 3-0).
* Pacific Coast: Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro (6-2, 3-0) at Irvine Northwood (5-2-1, 3-0).
* San Antonio: West Covina South Hills (4-4, 2-0) at Walnut (8-0, 3-0).
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Agoura’s defense turned in a big performance in its 54-10 victory over Simi Valley, holding senior quarterback Robbie Fierro to 122 yards.
The previous week against Moorpark, Fierro passed for 529 yards. The week before that, he had 339 yards against Thousand Oaks.
“He’s done a very good job for us,” Coach Karl Zierhut said of Fierro. “Last week was a bit of an anomaly, one of those days when everything goes wrong.”
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Three dots and a cloud of dust: Long Beach Cabrillo’s Cleven Doty completed three passes in the final 52 seconds, the last a 23-yarder to Deon Toliver with four seconds left, for a 35-33 Moore League victory over Long Beach Millikan. Doty had completed only four passes before the final drive.... Few rivalries are bigger than Carson vs. Wilmington Banning, and former Colt player Rowen Tupuivao was victorious Thursday in his first game as head coach against Banning, 24-7....Aaron Harris rushed 20 times for 265 yards as Baldwin Park defeated Pomona Ganesha, 33-8. He broke Lawrence Phillips’ school record of 259 yards.... Simi Valley Royal (6-2, 5-0) clinched a share of the Marmonte League title with a 44-7 victory over Moorpark (4-4), which is tied with Agoura (5-3), Newbury Park (5-3) and Westlake Village Westlake (4-4) for second at 3-2.
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Times staff writer Eric Stephens contributed to this report.