Valencia wins first CIF Southern Section football championship

Don Ray Hall scored two touchdowns in Valencia’s 28-14 win over visiting Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 5 championship game at Valencia High School on Friday night.

It was the first CIF Southern Section championship for Valencia High School. The Vikings were 0-5 in CIF Southern Section championship games entering Friday night’s game against Oaks Christian.

Hall’s second touchdown of the game, on a 97-yard kickoff return to start the second half, broke a 7-7 tie. He also scored a rushing touchdown in the first quarter.

Oaks Christian took a 7-0 lead before Hall tied the score with 2:23 to play in the first quarter.

Valencia and Oaks Christian went into halftime tied at 7-7.

Valencia’s Daniel Hernandez gave the Vikings a 21-7 lead, scoring on a 3-yard run with 9:00 to play in the third quarter.

Oaks Christian answered by scoring a touchdown to cut the lead to 21-14.

Giorgio Spriopoulos capped the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Valencia heads to the CIF State Championships. The Vikings (8-4) will play Scripps Ranch from San Diego (12-1) in the Division 2-A Southern California Regional championship game on Saturday at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

Scripps Ranch is the second-place team from the Eastern League and won the San Diego Section Division 2 championship. Scripps Ranch shut out La Jolla, 42-0, in the San Diego Section Division 2 championship game.

Scripps Ranch is led by running back Jalen Shaw, who has rushed for 849 yards and scored 14 touchdowns, and wide receiver Conor Lawlor, who has 1,099 receiving yards and scored 17 touchdowns.

The winner of the CIF Southern California Regional Division 2-A championship game will play the winner of the Northern California Regional Division 2-A championship game between Manteca and Wilson on Dec. 11.

Saugus High finishes in sixth place at Southern California Schools Band and Orchestra Association championships

The Saugus High band and color guard capped a celebrated season by finishing in sixth place in the Southern California Schools Band and Orchestra Association Division 4-A championships at Ramona High School in Riverside on Saturday night.

Saugus High was making its first appearance in the Southern California championships in five years. The last time the band and color guard competed in championships was in 2016. There was not a Southern California championship competition in 2020.

The Saugus band, performing its "Nocturn" routine, entered the Southern California championships after winning sweepstakes awards at Oxnard High School and Quartz Hill High School competitions. The Saugus High band and color guard was one of 12 schools to qualify for the Division 4-A championships.

West Ranch High School won first place in Division 4-A. The West Ranch band and color guard also won awards in high auxiliary (for color guard), high percussion and high music. 

Hart High finished in second place in Division 4-A.

Valencia faces Oaks Christian in CIF Southern Section Division 5 championship football game

Valencia’s Cameron Fontal kicked a 39-yard field goal to give his team a 24-21 win over Chino Hills in the CIF Southern Section Division 5 football semifinal playoff game at Valencia High School on Friday night.

It capped a furious finish to the game with Valencia scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter to oust Chino Hills from the playoffs.

The Vikings trailed Chino Hills, 14-7, at the end of the third quarter. Duhron Goodman tied it 14-14, scoring a touchdown 12 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Valencia took the lead 21 seconds later when Jake Staufer returned an interception for a touchdown and gave the Vikings a 21-14 lead with 11:27 to play in the game.

Chino Hills tied the score, 21-21, with just under six minutes to play, setting the stage for Fontal’s game-winning field goal.

He kicked the 39-yard field goal with two minutes left to play in the game.

Valencia (7-4) entered the CIF Southern Section playoffs as an at-large team from the Foothill League, the fourth-place team in the league standings.

Oaks Christian (7-6) is the second-place team from the Marmonte League. 

Valencia plays Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 5 championship game at Valencia High on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.

Oaks Christian beat El Modena, 24-14, in the other CIF Southern Section Division 5 semifinal. 

Saugus High band and color guard earn berth in Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association championships

The Saugus High School band and color guard are marching into the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association championships in Riverside on Saturday on a high note.

The Saugus High band won two sweepstakes awards in the field competition at Oxnard High School and took third place in the Division 4-A competition in the Battle of the Bands at Moorpark High School on Saturday.

It was a busy weekend for the Saugus High band and color guard with two competitions in Ventura County. The members of the band and color guard learned after the Moorpark High competition they qualified for the Southern California Band and Orchestra Association championships at Ramona High School in Riverside. The top bands in Southern California from Division 3-A and Division 4-A are competing at Ramona High. Saugus is in Division 4-A.

“My goal this year was to just make it in,” said Saugus High band director Bob Grigas. “I was fine if we got 12th place this season, and right now we are slated for sixth. This is so exciting and everyone should be very happy and proud of the work that you have all put in to make us a championship band.  

“I am so excited to complete this season and go out with a bang.”

The Saugus band and color guard won sweepstakes awards in auxiliary and high visual at the Oxnard High competition. The band and color guard also won first place in the Division 4-A category and took third place in the open percussion category in Oxnard.

In the Battle of the Bands at Moorpark High, the Saugus High band and color guard took third place in band in Division 4-A. 

Golden Valley High was third in band in Division 3-A.

Hart High won first place in band and high auxiliary in Division 4-A, and won the sweepstakes award in high visual.

West Ranch High won the sweepstakes awards in auxiliary, high music and tournament band.

Valencia reaches semifinals of CIF football playoffs

The Valencia football team knocked La Habra out of the CIF Southern Section Division 5 playoffs and advanced to the semifinals.

Valencia quarterback Trey Erickson scored two rushing touchdowns and passed for another in his team’s 24-6 win over La Habra at Valencia High School on Friday night.

Valencia receiver Duhron Goodman caught a 17-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to give the Vikings a 14-0 lead.

Valencia took a 14-0 lead at halftime and was up 17-0 after three quarters. La Habra didn’t score its first touchdown until the fourth quarter.

Valencia plays Chino Hills in the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 5 playoffs on Friday night at Valencia High in a matchup of two at-large teams in the playoffs. Valencia (6-4) is an at-large team from the Foothill League. Chino Hills (7-5) earned an at-large playoff berth from the Baseline League.

Chino Hills beat Summit, 15-8, in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 5 playoffs.

On the other side of the playoff bracket, El Modena faces Oaks Christian. El Modena (8-4) is an at-large team from the Crestview League. Oaks Christian (6-6) is the second-place team from the Marmonte League.