hTUSTIN – Valencia’s stability again started with Coach Mike Marrujo on Friday and flowed like a bolt of energy through his team.
The Tigers’ offense played with the balance. The defense played with it. And at just the right moment, Marrujo injected the extra aggressiveness to push his players even further.
Quarterback Tyler Switzer threw for two touchdowns and ran for another and Valencia’s defense fashioned a shutout in the second half to power the Tigers to a 24-13 victory at Tustin, clinching at least a share of a second consecutive Empire League crown.
The Tigers remained perfectly balanced by their standards: 9-0, 4-0.
“I think it’s special,” said Switzer, who has 25 TD passes. “I really feel we have a bond. We’re getting better each and every week. Hope to make it far in the playoffs.”
Valencia and its 35th-season coach certainly have the makings of a contender in the Southwest Division after handing Tustin (7-2, 3-1) its first league loss. The Tigers, ranked fourth in the division, are 9-0 for the first time since 2004.
“This was our toughest game of the year,” Marrujo said. “I’m real pleased with the kids. We could be special if we continue to work really hard.”
Marrujo sparked Valencia with an aggressive play call on the game’s opening series. The Tigers capped a 14-play, 65-yard scoring drive with a 4-yard touchdown plunge by Switzer on fourth-and-goal. The Tigers never looked back.
“I don’t (usually) do that,” Marrujo said of the call. “I felt we had to because they’re good.”
One of Switzer’s own calls paid off in the fourth. He called an audible for a streak route and tossed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Chachmoni Ben-Yisrael as the Tigers opened a 24-13 lead with 10:01 left.
A 54-yard catch-and-run by Jacob Briggs on a slant set up the score.
After Valencia’s defense forced Tustin to turn the ball over on downs at the Tigers’ 24 with 4:17 in the fourth, Marrujo used the ground attack of Jahquon Speed and two-way standout Darren Sandoval to grind out the remaining time. More balance.
Valencia limited running back Tyler Noble to 79 yards on 22 carries, including only 24 yards in the second half. Justin McHale forced a fumble and recovered another while Alec Sweet added a sack.
Valencia scored 11 points off turnovers. The most impressive was a diving 33-yard touchdown catch in the back of the end zone by Briggs after the Tigers recovered a fumble on a kickoff midway through the opening period. Switzer ran in the 2-point conversion to give the Tigers a 14-0 lead.
But Tustin stayed close thanks to a 41-yard touchdown reception by Jonathan Di Maio on a pass from Sagel Simon and two field goals by Anthony Garduno.
Valencia closes next week by playing host to Pacifica while Tustin takes on upstart Kennedy at Western in a potential duel for for second place.
Contact the writer: dalbanoh@ocregister.com