PLACENTIA – Etiwanda scored two fourth-period touchdowns to defeat Valencia, 24-14, in a well-played CIF-SS Division 4 first-round game Friday night on the Tigers’ field.
It was a game of contrasting styles. Valencia, which had won three straight, ran a ball-control, running offense. Etiwanda countered with a no-huddle, hurry-up spread.
Trailing 10-7, the Tigers (4-7) drove 95 yards on 19 running plays with its first possession of the second half to take a 14-10 lead on quarterback Sam Lydic’s 1-yard sneak with 19.3 seconds left in the third period.
Valencia star Jahquon Speed, who had 149 yards on 30 carries, had 46 yards on 10 carries on the drive. Fullback Ronnie Velasquez contributed 23 yards rushing on three carries.
Etiwanda (5-6) took the ensuing kickoff and Kasmir Dina, a 5-foot-5, 145-pound senior, took advantage of the spread to run for 25 yards on five carries and quarterback Tommy McDonnell completed a 10-yard pass to Hunter Black to the 4. After Valencia stopped Dina for no gain on back-to-back plays, Evan Gutierrez ran 4 yards out of the wildcat for the go-ahead touchdown.
Valencia put together a fourth-quarter drive, reaching the Eagles’ 39, but on first down, star running back Jahquon Speed fumbled and Etiwanda’s Jerome Wilson recovered.
Six plays later, Dina broke loose for a 25-yard touchdown run and Diego Garcia’s PAT put Etiwanda ahead 24-14 with 1:31 to play.
Garcia’s 52-yard field goal on the final play of the first half put Etiwanda ahead, 10-7.
Velasquez, a 6-foot, 230-pound senior, scored the game’s opening touchdown on a 4-yard run with 4:15 remaining in the first half.
Etiwanda tied the game at 7 on Dina’s 1-yard run with 1:34 on the clock.
Velasquez rushed for 59 yards on six carries. Lydic completed 4 of 7 passes for 58 yards and had one interception.
The Eagles advanced to the second round, where they will play Lompoc, which defeated Carter of Rialto 65-0 Friday, next Friday at home.
