The Vaqueros (0-8, 0-4 APC) played without linebacker Manny Hernandez, the No. 1 tackler in the state, as well as linebacker Marcus Griffin and their No. 1 rusher, Alonzo Winn.
The score was 0-0 at halftime despite three turnovers by the SBCC defense, including a pair of interceptions by Mitch Nelson.
The Monarchs (4-3, 2-1) drove 82 yards in five plays on their first possession of the third quarter. Michael Johnson scored the first of his two TDs on a 22-yard run up the middle. Thomas Borchert blocked the PAT, leaving the visitors with a 6-0 lead.
SBCC failed to convert on a fourth-and-6 from the Valley 39 on its next possession. Three plays later, Morey Croson connected with Chris Walker on a 64-yard pass, boosting the margin to 13-0.
The visitors drove 43 and 54 yards on their next two possessions and got into the end zone on short runs. Valley outgained the Vaqueros 456 to 183 yards. In the second half, the Monarchs averaged 10.6 yards a play and rushed for 195 yards on 25 attempts.
Valley was 7-15 on third-down conversions while SBCC was 1-13.
“I was proud of the way our defense rose up,” said coach Craig Moropoulos. “We were missing two of our better players inside. Mitch Nelson, Tom Borchert and Micha Otani-Wengler did a great job of stepping up.”
Nelson had 13 tackles and two interceptions. Borchert had 12 tackles and the blocked PAT. Otani-Wengler recorded nine tackles, as did Delancy Parham, Chad Quirarte and Mike Spiritosanto.
“Our defense just wore down,” Moropoulos added. “Valley has some athletic guys and they just kept pounding and pounding and pounding and got loose.”
Jake Umphreyville, making his second start at QB for the Vaqueros, completed 15-of-25 passes for 164 yards with three interceptions.
“You can’t do that (have 3 interceptions) when your defense is doing everything it can to hang in there and you keep giving them a shorter field,” Moropoulos said. “He’s doing the best job he can and he’s probably trying to do too much.”
The Vaqueros will play their final home game of the year on Saturday when they host Glendale on Saturday at 6 p.m.
