Game called midway through fourth quarter following a West Ranch player being taken off the field in an ambulance
The Valencia Vikings football team ran nine plays in the first half. The two-time defending Foothill League champions scored on five of them.
Of those nine plays, two ended with senior Brian Bonner reaching the end zone. Those were the only two times the University of Washington commit touched the ball, for a total of 114 rushing yards.
That’s just how Friday night’s league opener between Valencia and the hosting West Ranch Wildcats went at Valencia High School, with the Vikings eventually walking away with a 48-0 victory, though it ended early after a West Ranch player was taken off the field in an ambulance.
The game was called with 6:08 to play in the fourth quarter following junior Isaac Kim being taken away after taking a heavy hit during a kickoff return. Kim could be seen moving his extremities and gave the crowd a wave as he was being loaded into the ambulance.
“You try not to let it define the game, obviously, but it is a scary moment for any of us,” said West Ranch (1-3, 0-1) head coach TJ Yonkers. “Those that have kids, those that have played football, those that kind of understand things know it’s a part of the game. It’s a vicious game. I think overall he’ll be alright. He was aware, he was awake. Everything was moving. So, it seems like he’ll be OK.”
Valencia (4-1, 1-0) head coach Larry Muir echoed a similar sentiment.
“It’s always a sobering dose of reality of kind of what the reality of football is,” Muir said. “We all sign up for a very physical game, and the most important thing is his safety and his health, and I’m super happy that, at least so far, that he seemed like he was doing fairly well. We just wish him the best, and our thoughts will stay with him.”
Bonner ran 65 yards early in the first quarter to open the scoring before doubling the Valencia lead three minutes later on a 49-yard score. He added a couple more rushes in the second half to finish with 147 yards on just four carries. He now has 586 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the season. Friday marked his third 100-yard game in five tries.
“I mean, I give him the ball, and I know it’s a touchdown,” said Valencia senior quarterback Brady Bretthauer. “My hands are already going up in the air. He’s exciting to watch. And it’s really a blessing to have him in the backfield with me.”
Bretthauer also had a hand in two first-half touchdowns for Valencia. He made a 9-yard toss to senior Elias Holloway before sneaking through the West Ranch defense on a 75-yard score. When asked if he could beat Bonner, a state track and field qualifier, in a race, he said “get me on the track and we’ll have to find out.”
“That was fun,” Bretthauer said. “It’s my longest run in my career. So, that was pretty exciting.”
Muir elected to sit his starters for the rest of the first half after that, but his Vikings weren’t done. Freshman quarterback Evan McAlister completed his only two passes of the half, both to junior Anthony Vernon, for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Valencia took a 35-0 lead into the half. Bretthauer only attempted three passes, completing two of them for 15 yards. He’s now responsible for 12 total touchdowns on the season, while Holloway has caught four touchdown passes.
“You could say it was a statement,” Bretthauer said of his team’s first-half dominance. “Going into league, our whole thing is not worrying about who we’re playing each week — it’s just about playing our best football. I think we could have done a better job of that today. I don’t think we played our best football, and we still were able to get it done. But that’s just the kind of team we are.”
McAlister finished out the rest of the game, completing all four of his pass attempts for 95 yards. Muir said with his talent and a year of learning from Bretthauer, McAlister should be more than ready to take over under center for him next season.
“The two of them, the way they work together, (Bretthauer’s) leadership and his mentorship towards Evan is just awesome,” Muir said. “Their relationship is terrific, and a lot of that comes just from both of them.”
The Valencia defense had some highlights as well. Vernon nabbed his first interception of the campaign, while senior Chase Fulp picked up his first sack. Senior Caleb Larson nearly had his third sack of the season in the first half, but instead settled for a forced fumble that sent West Ranch back 20 yards.
Valencia added two touchdowns on the ground in the second half, one from senior Justin Pointer and another from junior Luke Valdes.
The two teams agreed to have a running clock for the entire second half.
Yonkers said it was clear that the two programs are on different trajectories for the season, but the way the game ended “puts it in perspective” for his players.
“Any play can be your last, and all the old adages about football,” Yonkers said. “Play like it’s your last, give it everything you have. You really never know when the game’s gonna be done with you … But really, just rally behind Isaac. He’s a good kid. He’s been playing hard for us all year. We really just gotta, you know, focus on playing our game and taking it play by play.”
West Ranch has its bye week before hosting Hart on Oct. 3.
Valencia is set to host Saugus next week. Saugus suffered its first loss of the season on Friday, 46-35 at the hands of Hart.
“Our strive is to be as perfect as a football team as we can be by week 11, and each week is a step into that,” Bretthauer said. “And I think Saugus is also a statement game with all the hype they’ve been getting recently. I think it’s time to show that we’re the best team out here in the (Santa Clarita Valley), and no one can hang with us.”