Thursday Throwdown: Valley wins district title (Video + Story)
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ALBUQUERQUE – Valley running back Charles Lopez-Burton Charles Lopez-Burton 6'0" | 205 lbs | RB Valley | 2024 State NM ‘s perseverance and determination paid off handsomely for the Vikings Thursday night in their biggest game of the season. Overcoming…
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Continue ReadingALBUQUERQUE – Valley running back Charles Lopez-Burton Charles Lopez-Burton 6'0" | 205 lbs | RB Valley | 2024 State NM ‘s perseverance and determination paid off handsomely for the Vikings Thursday night in their biggest game of the season.
Overcoming two early fumbles, Lopez-Burton rushed for 262 yards and 3 touchdowns in Valley’s thrilling 26-23 victory over Los Alamos at Milne Stadium that clinched the District 5A-2 title for the Vikings.
Lopez-Burton’s final two yards were the most important as he scored the game-winning touchdown with a short run with 1:30 left. He took advantage of some outstanding blocking by the Valley offensive line by running virtually untouched through the wide open right side for the winning score.
Valley improved to 6-3 overall, 3-0 in the district, with one regular season game left on the schedule -Oct. 27 at 6A independent Rio Grande. The come-from-behind win giving the Vikings the district title will likely give Valley a top eight seed and a first-round home game in the 5A playoffs.
Los Alamos fell to 7-2 overall, 1-1 in the district. The Hilltoppers conclude the regular season next week by hosting 1-8 Del Norte. Ranked No. 5 in the latest MaxPreps 5A poll, Los Alamos should also secure a favorable seed for the 5A playoffs.
Los Alamos scored first with a safety late in the first quarter. Valley responded with a 54-yard TD run by Daniel Garcia on a jet sweep on the first snap of the second quarter. Garcia showed great speed racing through the Los Alamos secondary.
Lopez-Burton’s first TD of the game on a 15-yard run gave Valley a 13-2 lead midway through the second quarter. Los Alamos scored on a 25-yard TD pass from QB Kyle Evenhus Kyle Evenhus 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Los Alamos | 2025 State NM to WR Seth Cowan in the final minute of the second quarter to cut Valley’s lead to 13-9 at halftime.
Los Almos quickly grabbed the lead at the outset of the third quarter on speedster Melaki Gutierrez Melaki Gutierrez 6'1" | 150 lbs | WR Los Alamos | 2024 State NM ‘s 63-yard TD run. Gutierrez sat out the first half after being penalized twice for unsportsmanlike conduct penalties last week against Manzano.
Valley regained the lead at 19-16 by driving down the field for a fourth-down power un by Lopez-Burton with 7:40 left in the third quarter. Los Alamos grabbed the lead back at 23-19 on a 27-yard TD pass from Evenhus to Haiden Jorgenson Haiden Jorgenson 5'11" | 150 lbs | K Los Alamos | 2024 State NM with 4:14 left in the third quarter.
Neither team scored again until Lopez-Burton’s game-winning run with 90 seconds remaining capped an 89-yard drive by Valley. It came moments after his 31-yard scamper put the Vikings on the doorstep to the end zone.
Los Alamos fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Valley recovered. The Viking drained the rest of the clock by picking up a first down and forcing the Hilltoppers to exhaust their two remaining timeouts.
When the scoreboard clock hit zeroes, the celebration was on for Valley.
VIDEO 1: Los Alamos at Valley (Part 1)
VIDEO 2: Los Alamos at Valley (Part 2)
VIDEO 3: Los Alamos at Valley (Part 3)
VIDEO: Los Alamos at Valley (Part 4)(Game-winning TD)