PLACENTIA – Valencia’s backfield tandem of Darren Sandoval and Jahquon Speed were too much for Brea Olinda too handle in the Tigers’ 34-7 nonleague victory over the Wildcats on Friday night at Valencia High.
Sandoval rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries and Speed carried seven times for 150 yards and had scoring runs of 35 and 92 yards.
Through two games this season, the pair has combined for 378 yards and five rushing touchdowns.
“We wanted to run the ball, which we did,” Valencia coach Mike Marrujo said. “On almost every down in the first half, they were having some trouble stopping us.”
Marrujo also praised the performance of quarterback Tyler Switzer, who was a perfect seven for seven, throwing for 98 yards and a touchdown
Switzer seems to be making the Tigers (2-0) more of a passing threat than in recent years, completing 17 of 21 passes, including five for touchdowns on the season.
Marrujo said he was concerned with stopping the Wildcats’ offense after it put up 35 points in Week 1 against Sonora.
Brea Olinda (0-2), in fact, moved the ball well Friday, but killed drives by committing turnovers.
Wildcats quarterback Dylan Flenniken was 19 for 26 for 218 yards and a touchdown.
However, a second-quarter interception by the Tigers’ Alec Sweet deep in Valencia territory took away one opportunity.
Earlier in the contest, a fumble recovery and 22-yard return by Jacob Briggs stopped a Brea Olinda drive and set up a touchdown for the Tigers.
Valencia hasn’t allowed more than a touchdown in two games.
The Tigers established dominance from the start of the game, first stopping Brea Olinda on a fourth-and-2 from the Valencia 33 in the opening drive.
The Tigers took over and drove 63 yards on seven plays and scoring on a 3-yard run from Sandoval.
Contact the writer: lponsi@ocregister.com
