SAN JOSE — Valley Christian dominated from start to finish.
The Warriors scored on all seven offensive possessions and even once on defense in a 47-7 victory over previously undefeated Archbishop Mitty in a West Catholic Athletic League opener Saturday at Valley.
Running backs Marcel Leggett and Ekiah McLemore were a formidable 1-2 combination. Gashing the Mitty defense behind a mammoth offensive line, Leggett carried 23 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns. The 230-pound McLemore, thunder to Leggett’s lightning, needed only 14 carries for 143 yards and three touchdowns.
Valley Christian’s Ekiah Mclemore (25) runs against Archbishop Mitty’s Luca Contarino (44) and Archbishop Mitty’s Kai Sniffen (19) in the first quarter at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
“We’re lucky we have two guys who we can go to and move the chains for us,” Valley Christian coach Mike Machado said.
After beating Wilcox in the season opener, Valley Christian lost the next two weeks to Salinas and Soquel, making Saturday’s outcome, particularly the margin of victory, something of a surprise. The team utilized its bye week to the utmost. The return to health of some key performers, McLemore, middle linebacker Ethan Flynn and offensive guard Vincenzo Iacomini, was a big help.
“The bye week helped us out for sure,” Leggett said. “Our focus mentally and physically made us ready to go. As the season goes on I think we’ll continue to get better.”
The Warriors drove to the Mitty 4 after receiving the opening kickoff and settled for a 21-yard field goal from Aaron VanderVeen to initiate the scoring.
Valley Christian’s Aaron Vander veen (19) kicks a field goal against Archbishop Mitty in the first quarter at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Mitty took over at the 20 and on the first play the snap from center went over quarterback Jonah Kroenung’s head and through the end zone for a safety.
A harbinger of things to come for the Monarchs.
VC took the free kick and went 58 yards in nine plays with McLemore scoring on an 8-yard run to make it 12-0.
Mitty then drove from its 20 to the Valley 1 behind the power running of Lazaro Faraj-Washington. But on third-and-goal from the 1, another snap sailed over the quarterback’s head and Micah Mosley recovered for Valley Christian at the 21. Two bad snaps for 20 yards in losses on each occasion.
The Warriors wasted no time in driving 79 yards in six running plays with McLemore scoring on a 34-yard scamper.
The rout was on. Leggett’s 4-yard TD run made it 26-0 at the half.
Mitty had defended the run well in its first three games.
“We knew they were going to run the ball, felt like we would stop them, but didn’t,” Mittyy coach Danny Sullivan said. “So we paid the price. Sometimes when you go against certain teams, go against a road-grading team like that, we just didn’t do it tonight. Hopefully we’re ready for Kingston Keanaaina (of St. Francis) next week.”
Valley Christian, including Christopher Cave jr. (36) and Kaden Hill (10), celebrates their 47-7 victory over Archbishop Mitty at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
No. 11-ranked Valley Christian started Rome Leota-Pritchard, a 5-foot-10, 210-pound freshman, at quarterback. He wasn’t asked to throw much as that road-grading offensive line allowed Leggett and McLemore to pick up big chunks of yardage at will. But he showed a strong arm when asked to throw, completing 4 of 5 passes for 60 yards.
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“He is unbelievably accurate in the long passing game,” Machado said. “He’s a kid that drew a lot of attention due to his arm strength and we were lucky he wanted to come here. He looks more like a fullback or a nose guard, but he’s a tough kid.”
The offensive line impressed with Washington-commit Champ Taulealea (6-5, 330) at left tackle, right tackle Terrence Johnson (6-6, 300), right guard Andrew Latu (6-4, 310), left guard Iaciomini (6-3, 265) and Nathaniel Banuelos, who slimmed down from 270 to 220, at center.
.”I felt that in the bye week we really came together,” Taulealea said.
After Kroenung scored on a 1-yard run to get Mitty on the scoreboard on its first possession of the second half, Leggett and McLemore added another touchdown apiece to make it 40-7 after three quarters. Neither played in the fourth quarter, but Valley’s backup backfield drove 81 yards in 13 plays with Joshua Youngblood scoring on a 4-yard run to close out the scoring.
Valley Christian ran for 337 yards in all on 51 carries. Faraj-Washington led No. 17 Mitty with 113 yards on 13 carries.
Archbishop Mitty’s Lazaro Faraj-Washington (4) is tackled by Valley Christian’s Jordan Vargas (21) and Trevor Gorshe (41) in the second quarter at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Archbishop Mitty’s Lazaro Faraj-Washington (4) runs with the ball against Valley Christian in the first quarter at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Valley Christian’s Justice Matthews (14) makes a catch against Archbishop Mitty in the second quarter at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Valley Christian’s Marcel Leggett (8) is tacked by Marquis Marshall (22) in the first quarter at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Valley Christian starting quarterback Micah Mosley (3) throws against Archbishop Mitty in the first quarter at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Valley Christian’s Joshua Youngblood (26) is tackled against Archbishop Mitty in the fourth quarter at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Archbishop Mitty’s Lazaro Faraj-Washington (4) is tackled by Valley Christian’s Joseph Patterson (12) in the second quarter at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)