VALENCIA TAKES ON CALABASAS

Valencia falls to CIF-ranked Calabasas in high-scoring thriller

Haymaker after haymaker, body blow after body blow, there wasn’t much Calabasas could do to fully put away Valencia on Thursday night.

Despite an eighttouchdown, 544-yard performance from Coyotes quarterback Jaden Casey, the Vikings found themselves marching on a gamewinning drive with 1:47 to play and trailing by two.

But that drive was cut 52 yards short as Valencia was edged 65-63 in what could be a preview of a playoff matchup between CIF Southern Section Division 2 heavyweights.

An interception from Jake Santos, one of two of the night for the Vikings, set them up on their own 21 with just under 2 minutes to play. Connor Downs’ pass to

Mykael Wright on 4th-and-1 fell incomplete, though, as the Coyotes held on for the win.

Valencia’s biggest lead of the night came in the fourth quarter following a 25-yard pass from Downs to Wright, which was Downs’ only passing touchdown of the night.

After Calabasas answered with a 46-yard pass from Jayden Casey to Nikko Hall, Moises Haynes powered in one of his four rushing touchdowns of the night – a 22-yard rumble – to help stake the Vikings to a 49-44 lead entering the third quarter.

Johnny Wilson opened the fourth quarter with one of his four touchdown catches of the night for Calabasas but Haynes answered with an 18yard TD to put Valencia out in front, 56-51, with 10 minutes to play.

Calabasas continued to air it out as Casey followed with a 43-yard pass and after a fumbled snap on the ensuing possession and the Coyotes capitalize with a 10-yard touchdown from Casey to Pittman to take a two-possession advantage.

Haynes punched in his final touchdown of the night from three yards out to set the Vikings up prior to Castro’s interception.

The Vikings trailed 30-28 at the half as Jayvaun Wilson added two rushing touchdowns to keep them within striking range. Wilson also put the Vikings up to open the second half with his third rushing touchdown of the night on just three carries.

Valencia opens Foothill League play next Friday against Hart.

Dan Watson/For The Signal Valencia's Mykael Wright (2) gets away from a Calabasas defender in the first quarter at Calabasas High School on Thursday.

Dan Watson /For The Signal (Left) Valencia's Jayvaun Wilson goes in untouched for a touchdown in the first quarter at Calabasas High School on Thursday. Valencia lost the game, 65-63, in Calabasas.

(Below) Valencia's Moises Haynes runs through the Calabasas defense Thursday at Calabasas High School.