PATRIOTS WIN IN A STRUGGLE BIRMINGHAM SOLVES VALENCIA D LATE BIRMINGHAM 29, VALENCIA 14.

Byline: IVAN OROZCO

Staff Writer

VALENCIA -- Morey Croson shrugged his shoulders and shook his head as he walked to the Birmingham of Lake Balboa sideline Friday.

The junior quarterback's body language depicted the Patriots' offensive struggles early in a 29-14 nonleague win against Valencia.

Incomplete left, incomplete right. That seemed to be the pattern of Croson's passes in the first half.

It took Croson eight tries and more than a half to complete a pass, while it took a few scattered big runs from running back Milton Knox to get the Birmingham offense moving.

That's because the Vikings' defense clogged the running lanes, forcing the Patriots (2-1) to pass.

It wasn't until Croson, starting in place of the injured Exavier Johnson, found DeVon Flournoy on a quick short pattern for his second completion. Flournoy tucked in the pass and dashed into the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown and a 15-6 Birmingham lead.

All of Croson's three completions -- out of 14 attempts -- went to Flournoy. Those three passes added up to 93yards that came after a small pep talk by Patriots coach Ed Croson, also the quarterback's father.

"I told (Morey) to quit reading his press clippings and read the defense," Ed Croson said. "He was a little bit nervous. Three weeks ago, he thought he was going to sit back and watch a great season. Then all of a sudden, he's thrown into the fire."

The Vikings (1-1) came with blitzes and stacked the line of scrimmage with seven defenders to keep Knox at bay. The strategy worked until the UCLA-bound running back broke free behind an offensive line that was able to create running lanes.

"We made some bad calls in the O-line and we didn't execute," said Knox, who rushed for 206 yards on 28 carries and three touchdowns of 39, 22 and 33 yards. "We made some silly mistakes but we regrouped and came out and did what we were supposed to do. We told our O-line they needed to get to the line quick enough and get to their blocks."

The Patriots finished with 18 penalties for 167 yards, including two personal fouls that helped keep a Valencia scoring drive alive in the second quarter. Birmingham defensive back Greg Burgess was ejected from the game in the second half for unsportsmanlike conduct.

While Birmingham tried to figure out a way to open up the offense, the Vikings' offense gave the Patriots trouble. Vikings quarterback Graham Wilbert directed the Valencia offense, going 20for32 for 200 yards and one interception.

Nick Hale scored both touchdowns for Valencia: a 3-yard burst up the middle and a 21-yard run in the fourth quarter to cut the Patriots' lead to 22-14.

"We we're trying to do what we do, but we got to give it to them, they're a good football team," said Valencia coach Larry Muir. "It was a hard-fought game. I don't think we just gave up. There were just a few key plays that we didn't complete."

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 5 boxes

Photo:

(1) Birmingham running back Milton Knox tries to stutter-step past Valencia's Cody Munoz during Friday's game. Knox and the Patriots won on the road.

(2) Birmingham's Malik Jackson, right, sacks Valencia quarterback Graham Wilbert in the first quarter of Friday's game at Valencia.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

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