HS FOOTBALL: Valencia defeats Canyon 34-7 in Foothill showdown

Refusing to be intimidated by a Canyon High team that had won its first six games by an average margin of nearly 40 points, Valencia gave new meaning Friday to the phrase "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."

Valencia came into the Foothill League showdown with a .500 record, having lost to three high-powered nonleague opponents, while visiting Canyon was riding high but was still waiting to prove itself against a top opponent.

The host Vikings jumped all over the Cowboys, surging to quick 14-point lead in a 34-7 win that gives two-time league champion Valencia an inside track with three games remaining.

Valencia (4-3, 2-0) limited Canyon to 224 yards - about half the Cowboys' average - and forced three turnovers in winning its fifth in a row over the Cowboys (6-1, 1-1) since 2006, all by decisive margins.

"We came out banging. We came out rolling," Valencia defensive back Edmund Darko said.

Valencia's Jake Solley rushed for 139 yards in 18 carries, and Sean Murphy completed 7 of his first 8 passes, finishing 12 of 19 for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Murphy also scored a touchdown, and Brett Schreiber added two field goals.

"Our defense played great. We shut them down over the last three quarters," Valencia defensive back Tedric Thompson said. "Our defensive line was great. The put on a lot of pressure."
Canyon quarterback Jonathan Jerozal came in with 1,651 yards passing and 19 touchdowns, but the senior had not seen a defense this season like Valencia's. He completed 13 of 26 for 186 yards and no touchdowns with two interceptions on a night when Canyon never seriously threatened after falling behind by two touchdowns.

"We got outcoached and outplayed," Jerozal said. "We came out and underestimated Valencia a little bit. We thought we were well-prepared, but obviously that wasn't the case."

Drew Wolitarsky, Canyon's heralded receiver, was limited to four receptions for 86 yards, and the junior was knocked out of the game in the second half after suffering an apparent leg injury.