Valencia earns second place, makes playoffs

ANAHEIM - Issac Dominguez rushed for 170 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead Valencia to a 42-17 Empire League victory over Loara on Friday at Glover Stadium.

The Tigers (8-2, 4-1) amassed nearly 300 yards rushing and 22 first downs, and the victory earns them a second-place finish in league and a playoff berth. The Saxons, after winning five of their first six games, dropped their last four and finished 5-5 and 1-4. (Full game stats.)

"I couldn't ask for a better offensive line than I have," said Dominguez, who also caught a pass and recorded two sacks. "Josh Gamboa, Nick Martinez, Keifer Neal, Junior Gauta, Travis Gipson and Shane Reekstin make us successful because they never take a play off."

Leading 14-10 at halftime, the Tigers notched two TDs in the third quarter to build a 28-10 lead.

Valencia recovered an onside kick to start the second half and quickly drove 49 yards in eight plays. Dominguez capped the scoring drive with a 1-yard TD run.

In the final minute of the quarter, the Tigers struck again. Karsen Garcia got behind the Saxons secondary and caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from Dave Pina.

Dominguez and Matt Gonzalez added fourth- quarter touchdown runs to seal the victory.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Tigers drove 80 yards in 14 plays to take a 7-0 lead. Pina scored on a 1-yard run to give Valencia the lead. After a 43-yard field goal by Loara kicker Jonathan Negrete, Dominguez capped another 880-yard scoring drive with a short TD run giving the Tigers a 14-3 lead.

The Saxons battled back and drove the length of the field in the final two minutes of the quarter and scored to trim the Valencia lead to 14-10 at halftime. Jesse Ben-Ron hauled in a 9-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Meraz with nine seconds left in the half.

Anthony Bautista rushed for 93 yards and a TD, and Howard Gauta caught five passes for the Saxons.

"Some folks didn't pick us to make the playoffs this season but here we are," Valencia coach Mike Marrujo said.

Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com