IRVINE – Valencia used a simple formula to defeat Crean Lutheran 34-7 Thursday night in an Empire League game at Irvine High.
The Tigers ran the ball effectively, to the tune of 258 yards and five touchdowns, and controlled the clock while also playing stout defense.
The Saints, who were playing their first Empire league game in school history, were taught astern lesson: The league title runs through Valencia.
Valencia, the defending league co-champions with Pacifica, was too physical for Crean Lutheran and looked every bit the favorite to repeat as league champs.
The Tigers (5-1, 1-0) were led by senior running back Nathan Sandoval who ran for a game-high 116 yards and a touchdown.
Coach Jason Gray complimented the Tigers’ ability to focus while coming off their bye week and their backfield.
“Sandoval is a good running back. We’re lucky to have some good ones, but he carried a lot of the load today,” Gray said. “He’s a talented kid and he did a great job.”
Also scoring rushing TDs for Valencia were Cole Johnson, Shaun McHale, Joshua Carrera and Anthony Moran.
The Saints (4-2, 0-1) struggled to move the ball with starter Grant Olbricht at quarterback, so Michael Berelowitz took charge of the offense in the second quarter.
First-year coach Randall Reynoso said the Saints have their work cut out for them as they adjust to the Empire League after several years in the Academy League and as a freelance team.
“Their physicality wore on us a bit, but we’ll get there,” Reynoso said. “We don’t have the strength, we don’t have the conditioning that the Empire League teams have. We don’t have it yet.”
The Tigers were on their way to a comfortable shutout after Johnson forced a fumble late in the fourth, which was recovered by Kaine Rosas.
Crean Lutheran took advantage of is final chance to get on the scoreboard. Reynoso called the touchdown pass from Berelowitz to Jack Johnson a momentum builder for the rest of the season.
“It was big for our guys,” Reynoso said, “We preach that we don’t scoreboard watch, we never quit, we know what task lies in front of us and we’re still improving.”