PLACENTIA — As the sun set over Valencia High, it only meant one thing – gametime. Hope resided on the Canyon Cowboys sideline, wanting to make the impossible happen. The Cowboys were looking for a storybook upset as they marched into enemy territory.
For mere moments, it looked possible. But in the end, reality struck, and the two-headed monster of the Valencia Vikings proved too much for Canyon to handle.
The Valencia Vikings (6-1, 3-0 Foothill League) decimated the Canyon Cowboys (1-7, 1-3 Foothill League) 35-3, staying perfect in league play.
“I wasn’t happy with the way we played in the first half,” Vikings head coach Larry Muir said postgame. “We made way too many mistakes. It wasn’t the Viking football that we’re accustomed to. … But to our credit, our guys flipped it in the second half. Did a great job of playing much better.”
Vikings quarterback Brady Bretthauer and running back Brian Bonner, the two-headed monster, have orchestrated the Valencia offense into a high-powered machine throughout this season and it continued against Canyon.
Bonner ran six times for 95 yards and two touchdowns, with Bretthauer completed 6 of 10 passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns. He added three rushes for 26 yards and a score on the ground.
“Obviously, they’re very talented, but they’re also outstanding kids,” Muir said. “Great people, terrific players, and just great people to have on the team, great teammates, all that good stuff. So we’re fortunate.”
The Vikings started off hot, scoring on their first possession in two plays. A 30-yard run by running back Justin Pointer was followed by a 30-yard touchdown pass from Bretthauer to Nico Funez. Reality set in quickly for Canyon, but they battled back.
Both sides fought for the next couple of possessions in the first quarter, but Valencia defensive end Caleb Larson had enough. After missing a sack on third down, Larson stuffed Cowboys running back Semaj Richardson on fourth down, resulting in a turnover on downs.
The first play of the Vikings’ ensuing possession?
A Bonner 53-yard touchdown. The rout was on as Valencia took a 14-0 lead. By halftime, the score was 35-3.
“We were struggling,” Muir said. “We were fighting ourselves. And so that was the message, in terms of trying to find who we are and who we know we are, we’ve committed ourselves to be, and it took a minute to kind of figure that out. But to their credit, they did find it.”
Valencia hurt itself with penalties in the first half. Facemask, holding and offside penalties; you name it.
“You’re trying to execute everything you’re doing, whether it’s offense, defense, or special teams, you’re trying to execute, and execution is effort and discipline, those two things,” Muir said. “And if you lack in one of them or two of them, oh my goodness, you’re gonna struggle. So there were points there, where we were struggling with those two things, but they turned around.”
Valencia now turns its attention to the Golden Valley Grizzlies (3-4, 2-1 Foothill League) on the road.