THE BIGGER THEY COME ... VALENCIA HAS NO FEAR AS IT PREPARES TO FACE MISSION VIEJO.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer VALENCIA - Can Valencia High pull off a monumental upset over high-powered Mission Viejo Mission Vi·e·jo A community of southern California southeast of Irvine. It is mainly residential. Population: 96,300. in the Southern Section Div. II football championship game at 7:30 Saturday night at Angel Stadium? If so, it would be the most significant victory in school history - in any sport. Top-seeded Mission Viejo (13-0) has won 54 of its past 55 games and is ranked No. 1 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports and No. 3 in the nation by USA Today USA Today National U.S. daily general-interest newspaper, the first of its kind. Launched in 1982 by Allen Neuharth, head of the Gannett newspaper chain, it reached a circulation of one million within a year and surpassed two million in the 1990s. . Although second-seeded Valencia (12-1) might have its best team ever, it lost by 30 points to Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks midway through the season. That is why many believe the Vikings don't have a chance against such a mighty opponent. One thing is for sure. Valencia's players, feeling as if they have nothing to lose, have vowed to give it their best shot. ``I'm excited. It's always cool to be the underdog,'' Valencia quarterback Michael Herrick said. ``I've never played in a high school game like this before. Now all we have to do is just go out there and play.'' Herrick is the key. It will take yet another terrific effort from the 6- foot-1 junior for Valencia to have a reasonable chance. He has passed for 3,715 yards and 30 touchdowns, and some of his most productive outings have come since the Notre Dame loss. Valencia is far from a one-man team, though. Several other overachievers are enjoying huge seasons: --Sophomore Shane Vereen, a 5-9, 165-pound blazer, has rushed for 1,328 yards, caught 52 passes and accounted for 33 touchdowns. --Shane Morales has a school single-season record 64 receptions - including 28 over the past four games - for 948 yards and seven touchdowns and he also is among Valencia's top defensive backs. --Kicker Brian Malette has made of 6 of 7 field goals, including a school-record 53-yarder, and boomed 52 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. --Anthony DeFilippo is No. 2 in California with 24 sacks and has recorded a school-record 147 tackles. Even though just about every knowledgeable expert favors Mission Viejo, Valencia has its spirited student body in its corner. The team draws a large crowd, which figures to provide an equal measure of boisterous support at Angel Stadium even though the venue is just a short drive from Mission Viejo's campus. ``I feel like we're going to win the game because we want it really bad,'' said student Josh Topete, a junior. ``There's a lot of school spirit here. We're pumped. Yes, we're the underdogs. But believe me, we've got a good chance.'' Gerry Gittelson, (661) 257-5218 gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com GAME OF THE WEEK VALENCIA (12-1) vs. MISSION VIEJO (13-0) 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Angel Stadium PLAYER TO WATCH: Joey Joey after Joseph Grimaldi, famous 19th-century clown. [Am. Hist.: Espy, 45] See : Clowns Miulli, OL, Valencia. One of Mission Viejo's key strengths is its defensive line, and Miulli figures to play a key role protecting the QB and opening holes for the RB. ``He's our toughest blocker,'' coach Brian Stiman said. OUTLOOK: Second-seeded Valencia has steamrolled through the first three rounds of the playoffs but figures to be a substantial underdog against Mission Viejo, ranked No. 3 in the nation by USA Today. Valencia, looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. its first football title after twice finishing as a runner-up, relies heavily on QB Michael Herrick and RB Shane Vereen. Herrick has completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 3,715 yards and 30 TDs, including six 300-yard performances. Vereen, a fast sophomore, has rushed for 1,328 yards, caught 52 passes and scored 32 TDs. Shane Morales (64 receptions, seven TDs) is among four starters with 52 or more catches. Mission Viejo has won 54 of its past 55 games, including victories this season over such high-profile opponents such as De La Salle De La Salle is the name of several educational institutions affiliated with the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, also known as the Lasallian Brothers, a Roman Catholic religious teaching order founded by French priest Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle: Concord (kŏng`kərd, kŏn`kôrd'). 1 city (1990 pop. 111,348), Contra Costa co., W central Calif.; settled c.1852, inc. 1906. , Long Beach Poly, Los Alamitos Los Alamitos (lôs ăləmē`təs, lŏs), city (1990 pop. 11,676), Orange co., NE of Long Beach, S Calif., in a suburban area; inc. 1960. Los Alamitos Racetrack and U.S. military installations are nearby. and Mater Dei Mater Dei is Latin for "Mother of God", referring to the Virgin Mary. The term has been used to name various institutions, often Catholic, including:
Santa Ana (sän'tä ä`nä), city (1993 pop. 129,873), W El Salvador. It is the second largest city in the country and the commercial and processing center for a sugarcane, coffee, and cattle region. . USC-bound Mark Sanchez Mark Sanchez (born November 11, 1986 in Long Beach, CA) is a college football quarterback attending the University of Southern California (USC). High school career has passed for 2,199 yards and 21 TDs with just three INTs. Chane Moline, a 230-pound junior, has rushed for 1,757 yards and scored 35 TDs - including a 234-yard, four-TD performance in a quarterfinal quar·ter·fi·nal adj. Of or relating to one of four competitions in a tournament, whose winners go on to play in semifinal competitions. n. 1. quarterfinals A quarterfinal round. 2. A quarterfinal match. victory over Hart two weeks ago. DL Nick Reed (eight sacks) is among California's top defenders. COACHES: Brian Stiman, Valencia; Bob Johnson Bob Johnson may refer to:
TICKETS: $12 reserved (second level), $10 general admission, $5 students. Parking is $8. DIRECTIONS: Take the 5 freeway south 55 miles, exit at The City Drive and turn left. Street becomes State College Drive, turn right on Gene Autry Way. Stadium is located at 2000 E. Gene Autry Way. CAPTION(S): photo, 6 boxes Photo: Sophomore Shane Vereen, right, and his Valencia teammates accept the role of underdog in the Southern Section Div. II title game against Mission Viejo. John McKay/Staff Photographer Box: (1) GAME OF THE WEEK (see text) (2) FIRST AND 10 (3) TEAM ROSTER (4) GAME LOGS - VALENCIA (5) LEADERS (6) GAME LOGS - MISSION VIEJO |
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