El Dorado’s Justin Karg (15) is all by himself as he catches the ball for a touchdown run against Valencia during a Friday night football game, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Valencia’s Alex Navarro (45) punts the ball as Archer Dakin (94) of El Dorado tries to block during a Friday night football game, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
With his family with him, Paul Ramos rings a bell on the field before the start of the football game, September 11, 2026, in honor of his 2-month old son, Quinn Christian Ramos, who passed away from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The bell was donated by Paul’s father, Dave Ramos in 1998. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
El Dorado’s Mason Sparks (29) scores on a 3-point conversion as Valencia’s Vincent Geroche (9) tries to take him down during a Friday night football game, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Valencia’s quarterback Deacon Belsey (3) holds onto the ball as El Dorado’s Darian Njoku (60) and Brock Whitten (84) takes him down during a Friday night football game, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
El Dorado’s Max Hester (31) runs with the ball as Justin Pineda (44) of Valencia holds on during a Friday night football game, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
El Dorado’s football team faces a half-mast flag during the playing of the National Anthem before the start of their game against Valencia, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
El Dorado High Marching Band stand during a moment of silence to honor the 9-11 victims before the start of their game against Valencia, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
El Dorado’s Darius Selway (22) runs 50-yards to take the ball down to the 3-yard line against Valencia during a Friday night football game, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
El Dorado’s Dylan Pruitt (23) and Valencia’s Tyler Campos (5) dives after a punt during a Friday night football game, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
El Dorado’s Justin Karg (15) returns the opening kick for the first touchdown of the game against Valencia during a Friday night football game, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
El Dorado’s Justin Karg (15) runs the ball down for the first touchdown of the game during the opening kick against Valencia during a Friday night football game, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
El Dorado’s Darius Selway (22) runs 50-yards to take the ball down to the 3-yard line against Valencia during a Friday night football game, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Valencia’s quarterback Deacon Belsey (3) looks for an open man during a Friday night football game against El Dorado’s, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
El Dorado’s Justin Karg (15) is all by himself as he runs with the ball for a touchdown run against Valencia during a Friday night football game, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
El Dorado Cheer and Song gather for a group photo before the start of their game against Valencia, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Valencia’s Ediel Nicolas (4) holds onto the ball as El Dorado takes him down during a Friday night football game, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
El Dorado football players stand during a moment of silence to honor the 9-11 victims before the start of their game against Valencia, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Valencia’s Lukas Delatorre (2) catches the ball for a touchdown with 20 seconds left in the first half against El Dorado during a Friday night football game, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
El Dorado’s Ryan Lema (45) kicks the first extra point of the game on a ball held by Mason Sparks (29) during a Friday night football game against Valencia, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. . (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
Valencia’s Cheer Team gather for a group photo before the start of their game against El Dorado, September 11, 2026, at Valencia High in Placentia. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)
PLACENTIA — El Dorado football team made it six victories in a row over its crosstown rivals Valencia with a 43-13 victory Friday night at Valencia High.
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The Golden Hawks (2-1) were dominant in all phases as they handed the Tigers (3-1) their first loss of the season.
They set the tone early with an 84-yard kickoff return by Justin Karg on the game’s first play.
El Dorado coach Zack LaMonda was pleased with his team’s ability to block out distractions after a rough loss last week to Yorba Linda and with the game being on the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
“The victory was great. You know, there were a lot of distractions,” LaMonda said. “I look at everything to try to be a teachable moment. And I realized that I remember where I was 25 years ago and in doing this whole process, I realized these kids weren’t born (then). So on Wednesday, we had a 20-minute presentation about 9/11 and the facts and all their stuff.
“Now it’s in the history books, you know, and trying to get these kids to understand that their way of life now is because of it.”
“We wanted to honor those guys,” LaMonda added, “and we did everything that we could until 7 o’clock. And we came out and performed, and we executed well, all three phases of the game.”
The Tigers fumbled on their first play from scrimmage and four plays later El Dorado’s Darius Selway made it 14-0 by scoring on a 1-yard run.
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El Dorado quarterback Hudson Shaddow led the next scoring drive by completing five passes on an eight-play drive capped by a 2-yard TD catch by Mason Shackleton.
Selway added another TD run as time expired in the opening quarter to make it 28-0.
Valencia fumbled on the ensuing kickoff to start the second quarter and El Dorado recovered the loose ball. Alonzo Anguiano scored on a 15-yard run, the Golden Hawks added a 2-point conversion to make it 36-0 with 11:50 left in the second quarter.
Shaddow played an efficient half of football going 9-for-11 with 135 yards and a pair of TD passes, including a 51-yard connection with Karg on fourth-and 1.
The Tigers finally got on the board with a 7-yard TD reception by Lukas De La Torre with 20 seconds left in the first half.
Zach Watson also caught a TD pass from Deacon Belsey in the fourth quarter.
El Dorado leads all-time series with Valencia 28-25. Valencia’s last victory in the rivalry was in 2019.
The Golden Hawks will be on the road to face El Modena on Thursday, Sept. 17.
“We got a short week to get ready for El Modena, going to their house on Thursday night,” LaMonda said. “(They’re) a very well coached team. I know those guys well. They’re hard nosed, tough, and, you know, we have to match that enthusiasm and intensity to get better next week too.”
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