VALENCIA WINS LEAGUE TITLE

Prep football: Valencia beats West Ranch for 11th straight league title

Entering the final week of Foothill League play, the reigning undefeated Foothill League champs, Valencia, hosted West Ranch at Valencia on Friday.

Blanking the Wildcats through the first half, the Vikings took a command of the score line early scoring three total touchdowns and two field goals to take a double-digit lead heading into halftime and continued the scoring, shutting out West Ranch 45-0 to capture the 11th straight Foothill League title.

“I’m just so proud of everyone, I’m so happy right now,” said Valencia quarterback Ryan Morrison. “Defense did amazing, offense did amazing and everyone did their jobs. We got our backups in too, it was a great night, fun night.”

After West Ranch’s first drive stalled, the Vikings (7-3 overall, 5-0 Foothill League) drove down the field and scored the game’s first points on a 41-yard field goal by kicker Ty Morrison with 5:17 left in the first quarter.

On the ensuing Valencia drive, quarterback Ryan Morrison and Jake Santos drove the Vikings 55 yards down the field capped by a 5-yard touchdown catch by Mitchell Torres to make it 10-0 Valencia with 2:15 remaining in the first quarter.

Down by two scores, the Wildcats tried to put together a drive calling three straight passing plays utilizing one of the league’s best arms, in quarterback Walker Eget. But similar to the first two drives, had to settle for a punt.

The Vikings took over and almost turned the ball over on an errant throw that West Ranch’s Jackson Reyes almost intercepted, but turned it into a 13play drive that ended with another Ty Morrison 36yard field goal attempt that went just wide.

West Ranch (8-2, 3-2) took over as quarterback Walker Eget connected with receiver Nicholas Kohl for two receptions of 13 and six yards, but on third down turned the ball over as Jordan Brentley intercepted a pass as he was falling down on the Vikings own 41 yard line with 7:45 left in the first half.

Capitalizing on the turnover, the Vikings leaned on running back Jake Santos as he carried the ball five times resulting in a two-yard run to the pylon giving the Vikings an 17-0 advantage.

Things got worse for the Wildcats on the following drive as Reiger Burgin fumbled a handoff on the third play of the drive that was recovered by Valencia’s Max Manno. Ryan Morrison threw his second passing touchdown of the half finding Jayden Lawrence for the 19-yard score just before the half with.

At the turn, Morrison connected with Zamondre Merriweather for his third and final passing touchdown of the night on a 19-yard strike just five minutes into the second half.

A Tanner Bench interception on the ensuing West Ranch drive set up Santos’ second rushing touchdown from 14 yards out to give the Vikings a 38-0 lead with 4:07 left in the third quarter.

The Vikings capped the game’s scoring five consecutive runs by Aidan Baptiste that ended with a three-yard run.

Dan Watson/The Signal (See additional photos on signalscv.com) Valencia’s Jake Santos (21) straight-arms West Ranch defender Dominick Martinez (5) at Valencia High on Friday. The Vikings beat the Wildcats 45-0 in the final week of Foothill League play.

Dan Watson/The Signal (See additional photos on signalscv.com) (Above) West Ranch quarterback Walker Eget (2) fakes a handoff to Reiger Burgin (34) in the first quarter at Valencia High on Friday. (Below) Valencia’s Mitchell Torres (5) makes the catch in a game against West Ranch in the first quarter on Friday.

Dan Watson/The Signal (See additional photos on signalscv.com) Valencia’s Mitchell Torres (5) makes the catch for the touchdown in the first quarter at Valencia High School on Friday. The Vikings captured their 11th straight league title with Friday’s win.