SALINAS, CA — The Valley Christian High football team — co-champions of the ultra powerful West Catholic Athletic League — has relied on its defense all season long.
Friday night in a Central Coast Section Open Division matchup against the No. 3 seed Palma, the Warriors "D" came through again.
The No. 6-seeded Warriors held Palma star running back Emilio Martinez in check and the Chieftains to their lowest point total of the season as Valley Christian held on to defeat Palma 14-7 at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas.
“Our defense again held the line,” said Valley Christian coach Mike Machado. “You have to drive the ball and you’re going to have to play sound offensive football against our defense to be able to get in the end zone.”
With the win, Valley Christian (9-2) advances to the semifinals and will face WCAL rival and No. 7 seed Bellarmine, which upset No. 2 seed Milpitas 9-6 in overtime.
The Warriors held Martinez to only 73 yards on 22 carries and no touchdowns - the first time all season he was kept out of the end zone.
“Just taking care of your gap at the line of scrimmage,” said Machado. “Stopping the run this week was the most important thing we were going to try and do and that’s what we did.”
While the Warriors were holding Martinez in check on defense, Valley Christian’s three-headed monster of Kirk Johnson, Tre McCloud and Mark Quinby were causing fits for Palma.
The trio combined for 269 yards rushing on 38 carries including a touchdown.
“We were just able to spread it out with our three running backs and give (Palma) less time with the ball,” said McCloud, who rushed for 72 yards on 11 carries.
It was the ground game that worked most efficiently throughout the game for the Warriors but it was the passing game that led two its two scoring drives.
Senior quarterback Michael Machado and Collin Johnson broke the deadlock with 9:43 left in the first half when they hooked up for an 83-yard touchdown pass to give Valley Christian a 7-0 lead.
After forcing a Palma three-and-out, Machado and Johnson connected again for a 36-yard reception that led to a Quinby one-yard touchdown run on the next play to make it 14-0 Valley Christian.
“With our defense if we score a touchdown we know we have a chance to win because our defense is that good,” said Quinby. “We knew our defense could hold them.”
Valley Christian went into halftime up 14-0.
Palma (9-2) didn’t go away as its vaunted defense completely took Johnson away in the second half. Then the Chieftains responded by getting their own pass attack in gear.
Johnson, who caught all four of Machado’s completions - for 139 yards, was held to only one catch for eight yards in the second half.
Chieftains quarterback Jack Richardson had a rough first half — 3-of-10 passing for 19 yards and an interception — but started to find his stride in the second half.
Richardson completed 11 of 19 second-half attempts for 158 yards, including Palma’s lone score on a 55-yard touchdown pass to Adrian Valdez to make it 14-7 with 8:01 left in the game.
That play capped a 9-play, 95-yard drive.
On the next series, Zach Barry was able to intercept Machado and give the Chieftains the ball on their own 49-yard line but Palma wasn’t able to come away with any points.
Palma, co-champions of the Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division, got one last chance with the ball on its own 18-yard line with 1:12 left in the game.
Richardson completed four of his first five attempts on the drive but then with the just over 28 seconds left in the game, Warriors defensive back Morian Walker intercepted Richardson on the 30-yard line to seal the victory for Valley Christian.
“In the Open you play the best teams so you have to play your best game to win each game,” said Quinby. “Our team played great. We need to come out and play another great game (next) week.”
Justin Nobida-Lagrimas led Palma with 73 yards on seven catches and Valdez finished 80 yards on four catches including his 55-yard touchdown reception in the loss for Palma.
“I thought my team played inspired defense the entire game,” said Palma coach Jeff Carnazzo. “We did a great job against the run and that’s a running team. I think we defended them well. They had two big plays in the passing game. It’s not like we were playing poor defense we had great coverage on (Johnson). He’s just a Division I athlete. But we fought and didn’t let them score again.”
Palma’s season isn’t over as the Open Division, for the first time in its history, has a consolation bracket but it’s something Carnazzo is not happy about.
“The frustrating part is a good football team has no chance of going on and playing which is disappointing,” said Carnazzo of his team. “I think I have a team that can compete. My kids have played their hearts out all year long and for us to face this and be out is disappointing.”
Carnazzo did say that if the CIF makes changes to the consolation bracket next year and allows teams to be eligible for a bowl game if they win it then he’s all for it. But until then it’s a matter of playing another game with no significance.
“To play an exhibition game and have kids play for nothing I’m not for it,” said Carnazzo. “Since we are a small school we are huge advocates of kids playing other sports so for me to hold kids back for a game that doesn’t mean anything wouldn’t be right.”
Carnazzo said that he will give his players that play winter sports the option of playing in a consolation game next week or going into their winter teams since you don’t get anything for winning the consolation bracket this year.
“I’m frustrated with this whole thing,” said Carnazzo of this year’s consolation bracket. “I’m also frustrated that we are good team and now we are done.”
Palma has been knocked out of the Open Division in the first round in three of the last four years. The one year they weren’t in the Open, the Chieftains went on to win the CCS D-IV title in 2011.
