Oct 28, 2006 By Dave Stofcheck 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – California didn’t try to fool Mother Nature Friday night. The Trojans didn’t have to. They just ran right through her.

California’s Donte Valentino and Waugh Carter weren’t bothered a bit by a rain-soaked, muddy playing field, combining for 330 rushing yards and scoring three touchdowns each in a 41-0 drubbing of Carmichaels in Tri-County South action.

The victory gives the Trojans a 5-1 section mark, tying them with Monessen and Jefferson-Morgan atop the Tri-County South. But by virtue of the Gardner Points System, the Rockets and Greyhounds will likely receive first-round home playoff games when the WPIAL announces its postseason pairings Monday night.

California and Carmichaels, which finished fourth in the Tri-County South, will start the postseason on the road.

Against the Mikes Friday night, the Trojans needed just 14 seconds to score the only points they would need.

On play-action from the California 20-yard line, Carter came out of the backfield and blew past a Mikes linebacker before hauling in a pass from Valentino. The speedy halfback then raced untouched the final 55 yards to give the Trojans a quick six.

Carmichaels fumbled the ensuing kickoff return, and eight plays later, Carter bullied his way into the end zone from two yards out to make it 13-0.

Carter’s third touchdown came midway through the third quarter on a 48-yard run. He carried nine times for 131 yards.

Valentino, meanwhile, carried nine times as well, totaling 199 yards. His first touchdown came from a yard out, and later in the second quarter following a Carmichaels’ punt, the speedy Trojans’ junior took a handoff at his own 20, squeezed through the line of scrimmage and turned the play outside where he outran the Mikes’ defense and scored 80 yards later.

“I was a little worried about the conditions before the game,” said California coach Joe Kuhns. “Speed is usually equalized by muddy conditions, but our guys up front tonight did a good job and made sure our backs didn’t have to worry about cutting too much.”

Valentino scored the Trojans’ final points when on a play similar to his 80-yards second-quarter run. This time, he broke free and scored from 70 yards out to make it 41-0.

Aside from a halfback-option pass and another gadget play in which running back Logan Phillips took a handoff and then threw a pass to quarterback Joby Lapkowicz, Carmichaels’ offense was virtually non-existent.

Lapkowicz was sacked five times, and officially finished with zero rushing yards on 20 carries.

“I knew they (California) had speed, and I was hoping the weather was going to be like this,” said Carmichaels coach Mike Bosnic. “Our goal was to make statement heading into the playoffs. But we got down early and right away things kind of fell apart.”

The loss assures Carmichaels (4-5, 3-3) will have a losing season for the first time since 1995.