PREP FOOTBALL : Central Conference Final : Bolsa Grande Gains Revenge, Title

Bolsa Grande High School got revenge and its first football title in the school’s 27-year history Friday night as quarterback Damon Fisher scored three touchdowns in a 24-7 victory over Valencia before a capacity crowd of 8,000 at Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium.

Fisher threw a 42-yard touchdown pass, scored on a 4-yard keeper and then sealed the win with a 20-yard interception return to give Bolsa Grande the Central Conference championship. The victory avenged a 33-10 loss to Valencia during the fifth week of the season.

The rematch was a mismatch as Bolsa Grande controlled the line of scrimmage, with tackle David Lannon and linebacker Chris Matney helping to limit run-oriented Valencia to 62 yards rushing.

Bolsa Grande finished its finest season with a 13-1 record and outscored the opposition, 389-157. Valencia, also making its first title-game appearance, finished 11-2-1.

“The difference between the first game and tonight’s was the play of their defensive front,” Valencia Coach Mike Marrujo said. “We couldn’t block, and when we couldn’t block them, we couldn’t run. We never got our offense going.”

The Tigers’ only touchdown came after Bolsa Grande running back Ricky Lepule fumbled at his 38-yard line. Valencia capitalized on the turnover and ultimately scored when quarterback Chris DeRisio threw a two-yard swing pass to Mike Edwards for a short-lived 7-0 lead.

Valncia never got another drive going and managed only two first downs in the second half, when it was outscored, 17-0.

Fisher, a diminutive junior, tied the score in the second quarter when he found receiver Wes Holland alone in the end zone for a 42-yard touchdown pass play.

It was the only pass Fisher completed. He added 53 yards in 17 carries, including a four-yard touchdown run that gave Bolsa Grande the lead for good at 14-7 with 6:57 remaining in the third quarter.

Jose Cuerva, the smallest player on Bolsa Grande’s 31-man roster, made one of the biggest plays of the second half. The 135-pound senior kicked a 43-yard field goal with 2:38 left in the third quarter to push Bolsa Grande ahead, 17-7.

“That field goal was the clincher,” Marrujo said. “Now, we had to score two touchdowns to go ahead, and we started gambling.” That has never been Marrujo’s style.

DeRisio, erratic throughout the playoffs, was asked to bring Valencia back after the running game failed. It was too much to ask. He completed 6 of 13 passes for 60 yards but had a pass intercepted by Fisher for Bolsa Grande’s final score.