PLACENTIA – Bragging rights in the city were on the line Friday, and El Dorado came away doing the celebrating. Jack Strouse threw for three touchdown passes and ran for another to lead the Golden Hawks past Valencia, 28-14, in a nonleague game at Valencia High.
Strouse went 13 for 17 for 189 yards and two touchdown tosses to his favorite target, Connor Leech, who had eight catches for 142 yards. The second Strouse-to-Leech TD came with 5 seconds left in the half to give El Dorado (2-1) a 13-7 lead.
Valencia (0-4) had taken a brief 7-6 lead with 27 seconds remaining in the half on Eric Terrones’ 7-yard run. Strouse took El Dorado 73 yards on two plays in 22 seconds to take the lead for good.
El Dorado’s first touchdown drive went a little bit longer, lasting 16 plays and just over five minutes. The 76-yard march ended when Strouse found Leech open with a 5-yard scoring strike with just over eight minutes left in the opening period.
The Tigers opened the second half with a drive to the El Dorado 30-yard line, but the Golden Hawks took over on downs and went 70 yards in six plays. Strouse threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Robert Arroyo at the midway point of the third quarter.
Valencia closed the gap on Michael Carrasco’s 9-yard run with 36 seconds left in the quarter.
El Dorado called 11 consecutive plays on the ground before Strouse called his own number on a 9-yard TD run with 7:14 remaining in the game.
Jahquon Speed led the Valencia offense with 105 rushing yards on 24 carries.
