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  • Tustin's Jonathan Di Maio, left, reaches over Valencia's Jackson Mirth...

    Tustin's Jonathan Di Maio, left, reaches over Valencia's Jackson Mirth to pull in a pass and then continues to score a touchdown in the second quarter of Friday's game.

  • Tustin's Jonathan Di Maio, right, celebrates with teammate Marwin Alapati...

    Tustin's Jonathan Di Maio, right, celebrates with teammate Marwin Alapati after Di Maio caught a pass for a touchdown in the second quarter of Friday's game against Valencia.

  • Valencia's Jahquon Speed, left, gets by Tustin's Joey Maduena on...

    Valencia's Jahquon Speed, left, gets by Tustin's Joey Maduena on his way for more yardage in the first quarter of Friday's Empire League game.

  • Tustin's Tyler Noble shakes off a tackle by Valencia's Chachmoni...

    Tustin's Tyler Noble shakes off a tackle by Valencia's Chachmoni Ben-Yisrael in the first quarter of Friday's game.

  • Valencia's Chachmoni Ben-Yisrael, left, beats Tustin's Jonathan Di maio to...

    Valencia's Chachmoni Ben-Yisrael, left, beats Tustin's Jonathan Di maio to make the catch and a touchdown in the fourth quarter to seal the win for Valencia on Friday.

  • Valencia's Chachmoni Ben-Yisrael, left, and teammate Jacob Briggs celebrate in...

    Valencia's Chachmoni Ben-Yisrael, left, and teammate Jacob Briggs celebrate in the end zone after Ben-yisrael scored a touchdown on a pass late in the fourth quarter against Tustin.

  • Valencia's Alec Sweet, left, sacks Tustin's quarterback Sagel Simon in...

    Valencia's Alec Sweet, left, sacks Tustin's quarterback Sagel Simon in the fourth quarter of Friday's game.

  • It takes Tustin's Sai Mikaio, Richard Lujan, Marwin Alapati, and...

    It takes Tustin's Sai Mikaio, Richard Lujan, Marwin Alapati, and Danny Lopez, from left, to bring down Valencia's Darren Sandoval in Friday's game.

  • Valencia's Mason Paine, right, deflects a pass intended for Tustin's...

    Valencia's Mason Paine, right, deflects a pass intended for Tustin's Jonathan Di Maio late in the fourth quarter of Friday's game.

  • Tustin's student conductor watches for her cue during Friday's game...

    Tustin's student conductor watches for her cue during Friday's game against Valencia.

  • Tustin fans look for a miracle as their team trails...

    Tustin fans look for a miracle as their team trails Valencia in Friday's game.

  • Tustin fans dressed in costume for Friday's game against Valencia.

    Tustin fans dressed in costume for Friday's game against Valencia.

  • Valencia's Tyler Switzer reaches the ball over the goal line...

    Valencia's Tyler Switzer reaches the ball over the goal line to score a touchdown versus Tustin.

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Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Staff Mug Shot taken August 26, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

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