Scots, Tigers advance in CIF playoffs
CALEXICO — The Vincent Memorial High football team opened the CIF-San Diego Section Div. V playoffs with a solid 43-8 victory over Southwest High of San Diego at Calexico High’s Ward Field here Friday night.
The Scots went into the quarterfinal contest as the tourney’s No. 1 seed, while the Raiders sat in the No. 8 spot in the eight-team playoff bracket.
Vincent Memorial proved it was serving of the top seed after it scored on its first two possessions of the game to go up 14-0.
Opening the game with the first touchdown was Daniel Rizzo, who found the end zone after a 10-yard rush.
Adolfo Perez added all the PATs on the night, including a two-point conversion in the third quarter of the game.
The Scots made their way down the field on the arm of senior quarterback Eduardo Valenzuela, who finished the game with four touchdown passes to three different players.
In the Scots’ opening drive, Valenzuela launched three passes that took Vincent Memorial from their own 44-yard line, to the Raiders’ 10-yard line, setting up Abizaid’s rushing score.
“Eddie is using all his weapons on offense instead of just relying on one person,” commented the Scots’ Offensive Coordinator Fernando Santana. “We have between five and six guys that can catch the ball and (Valenzuela) is using them all. He’s playing a more mature for of offense, which is what we need (in the playoffs).”
Valenzuela clocked his first passing touchdown on the Scots’ second possession of the game after connecting with top receiver Juan Pablo Ruiz from 28-yards to take an early 14-0 advantage.
Just as the offense got the ball rolling early in the game, so did the defense, which held the Raiders scoreless through the first half of the game.
“We made some changes last week with our defensive coordinator,” Santana said. “We moved some people around and scouted and then we were able to stop Mount Empire last week and now Southwest San Diego.”
In the second quarter, the Scots worked to put up one touchdown as Valenzuela connected with Hernan Olivas from eight yards to go up 21-0 with 6 minutes left before the half.
While the Raider defense contained the Scots for the remainder of the period, the same could not be said for the third quarter of the game, where Vincent Memorial put up three more touchdowns on the scoreboard.
Abizaid tallied his second score of the game off a 4-yard rush with kicker Perez running into the end zone for two points, giving Vincent a 29-0 lead with 10:50 left on the clock.
At the 7:19 mark, Valenzuela connected with Ruiz again, this time from 45-yards out to go up 36-0.
Following this play, the Raiders scored their first and only touchdown of the game on a 2-yard Joshua Sanchez rush and David Espinoza two-point dash.
The Scots would get in one more score before the third quarter expired with Valenzuela catching Olivas from 18-yards out for their final score of the game.
“They were a little shaky during practice,” Santana said of the team. “But they calmed down and had a very good week of practice and were excited to be on the field. They’re ready to win it.”
With the victory, the Scots move to 9-2 on the season and are set to compete in the Div. V semifinals on Friday at Ward Field.
The Scots will host No. 4 Classical Academy, who advanced to the semis following a 13-7 win over Maranatha Christian.