Valencia Defense Key to Victory

With its high-powered offense and quarterback Michael Herrick struggling for much of the game, Valencia turned to its defense to collect a second nonleague win of the season over a Serra League opponent with a 37-6 victory over host Bellflower St. John Bosco on Friday night.

Despite failing to score more than 40 points for the first time this season, Valencia (4-0) took the lead on its first possession and never trailed. Led by linebackers Torrey O’ Brien, Anthony DeFilippo and Gary Cox, the Vikings’ quick-blitzing defense limited St. John Bosco to 63 total yards, forced five turnovers and had a safety.

“They’ve been doing some real good things all year long,” Valencia Coach Brian Stiman said of the defense, which led a 45-7 rout of La Puente Bishop Amat two weeks ago. “Hopefully, we’ll continue it.”

Herrick, who had 960 yards and 12 touchdown passes in his first three games, shook off a slow start to complete 16 of 36 passes for 233 yards. He was intercepted three times but did throw three scoring passes.

Sophomore running back Shane Vereen had a big game with 105 yards and scoring runs of 10 and four yards in the second half as the Vikings broke open a 7-3 halftime lead with 16 third-quarter points.

Andrew Aguila, a 6-foot junior, kicked a school record 54-yarder in the second quarter for the Braves (2-2) and had a 42-yarder in the third quarter.

Eric Stephens

*

Lake Balboa Birmingham 33, Newhall Hart 27 -- The Patriots (2-2) raced to a 26-0 halftime lead, then survived a furious second-half rally by No. 9 Hart in the upset victory at College of the Canyons in Valencia.

Hart pulled to within a touchdown on a five-yard scoring run by Robbie Casselberry with 2:36 to play. Birmingham recovered the ensuing on-side kick and ran out the clock. A 16-yard pass play from Andrew Miramontes to Kenny Davis on fourth-and-six with 1:06 to play sealed the victory.

Miramontes completed 14 of 24 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns. The Birmingham defense forced six Hart turnovers, giving the Indians (2-2) 11 turnovers in their two losses. It is the first time Hart Coach Mike Herrington has lost to a City section team in his 16 years with the Indians.

Hart quarterback Tyler Lyon completed 28 of 54 passes for 368 yards and a touchdown, but also had three passes intercepted. Receiver Ryan Wolfe caught 12 passes for 154 yards and Troy Yudin had nine catches for 133 yards and a touchdown.

Birmingham limited Hart to 47 yards rushing. Birmingham nose tackle Nick Carter left in an ambulance with a broken leg in the fourth quarter.

-- Peter Yoon