Valencia Outguns Chatsworth, 28-12

CHATSWORTH —  Step for step, tailback Manuel White of Valencia High and quarterback Matt Cassel of Chatsworth covered about the same amount of turf Friday night.

The difference was White ran through the defense all night, while Cassel habitually ran away from a furious pass-rush.

White finished with 214 yards and scored four touchdowns to pace Valencia’s 28-12 victory in a nonleague game at Chatsworth, which had Viking Coach Brian Stiman steamed at times, confused at others.

Although Valencia was flagged only four times for 48 yards, three of the penalties kept Chatsworth’s two second-half touchdown drives alive.

“I think the officiating affected our defense a lot, and that’s a shame,” Stiman said, “because [we] had a chance to get a shutout. If anybody honestly looked at it, the two touchdowns they got were based on penalties.”

Trailing, 14-0, at halftime, Chatsworth put together a 61-yard scoring drive on its first possession of the second half, capped by a Cassel one-yard run to get within, 14-6.

On fourth and 11 at Chatsworth’s 38, Valencia was flagged for a late hit on Cassel to give the Chancellors a fresh set of downs.

Later, on first down at the Valencia 26, a bad snap had Cassel frantically chasing down the ball, which he then fumbled about 19 yards behind the line of scrimmage. But a face-mask penalty gave Chatsworth the ball back at the Viking 13.

“That was just wrong, flat-out wrong,” Stiman said.

Valencia (3-1) answered with an 80-yard scoring drive, 72 yards courtesy of nine White runs, capped by his 19-yard touchdown run that included a stiff arm at the five for a 21-6 lead.

Chatsworth (1-3) scored again on the next possession on an 11-yard pass play from Cassel to Mark Harris to make it, 21-12, early in the fourth quarter.

White carries accounted for 17 of the Viking’s 22 plays in the second half.

White, who carried 28 times and scored on runs of 30, five, 19 and 10 yards, didn’t mind the role of workhorse.

“They feed me the ball, I’m going to do what I can,” White said. “The line picked it up a lot this week.”

Chatsworth’s line, however, provided little protection for Cassel, a 6-4, 206-pound senior who is headed to USC on scholarship.

Cassel, who was 13 of 29 for 162 yards and a touchdown, was sacked seven times for minus-37 yards. But it could have been much worse. He wiggled his way out of another five sacks with pure athleticism.

“They had a really physical team with Ray Cassaday,” Cassel said. “I don’t know the name of that No. 82, but, wow.”

No. 82 is junior tackle Kaelen Jakes, who made life miserable for Cassel from start to finish. He batted down a pass, caused a Cassel fumble and recorded three sacks.

Jakes, who said he has suffered from flu symptoms the last few days, was just as complimentary about Cassel.

“He’s a real good quarterback,” Jakes said. “It was an honor to play against him.”

Of Cassel’s 17 carries, the 10 gains netted 74 yards.