Week 2 | Rowland Raiders vs. Valencia Tigers – Game Recap (42–6 Final)

Placentia, CA (Sept. 5, 2025) — The Rowland Raiders proved their opening week wasn’t a fluke. On Friday night, the Raiders dominated Valencia on the road, rolling to a 42–6 victory that showcased explosive offense, a swarming defense, and a special-teams unit that made game-changing plays. The win moves Rowland to 2–0 on the season.

Rowland High School Football blog recap: Raiders 42, Valencia 6.

Offense: Balance and Firepower

Rowland’s offense wasted little time establishing control. Senior quarterback Damien Arrieta set the tone through the air, completing 3 of 6 passes for 48 yards and a touchdown, including a perfectly placed 34-yard strike to Aidan Opatkiewicz for six. Fellow quarterback Jose Valadez chipped in with 34 passing yards of his own, giving the Raiders dual threats under center.

On the ground, it was CJ Carrillo who stole the show. The senior carried the ball just seven times but racked up 136 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a back-breaking 43-yard sprint that silenced the Valencia crowd. Bryce Johnson added toughness between the tackles with 52 yards on 7 carries and a touchdown, while Damien Arrieta showcased his versatility with 29 rushing yards and a score to go with his passing numbers.

By night’s end, Rowland had amassed 232 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground, complemented by 82 passing yards and another score through the air.

Defense: Takeaways and Trenches

Rowland’s defense looked every bit the part of a championship-caliber unit. The Raiders totaled 59 tackles on the night, with Alex Huerta (7 tackles) and Max Rochin (6 tackles) leading the charge.

Up front, F. Trujillo set the tone with a sack and a fumble recovery, while Ethan Zepeda and Fabian Valdez each added half-sacks. Behind them, the secondary turned opportunities into points: Cory Cofer jumped a route for a 38-yard pick-six, while Lawrence Biehn added two interceptions for 14 yards.

In one of the game’s defining sequences, Rowland’s defense recovered a fumble keeping momentum squarely in the Raiders’ favor.

Special Teams: Points and Pressure

Special teams quietly reinforced Rowland’s dominance.

• Aidan Opatkiewicz handled punting duties.

• Aidan Opatkiewicz also went 2-for-3 on PATs, while Taylor Wright attempted one.

• CJ Carrillo punched in two 2-point conversions, ensuring Rowland finished drives with maximum impact.

Final word

When the dust settled, the scoreboard read 42–6, but the story was much bigger. Rowland showcased an identity built on balance: an offense that can score in multiple ways, a defense that thrives on pressure and takeaways, and a special-teams unit capable of flipping the field in an instant.

With back-to-back decisive wins to open the season, the Raiders are not just unbeaten — they’re building a reputation.

Next up: Rowland looks to keep the momentum rolling in Week 3.

Players of the Game

Frosh/Soph: Ralph Rodriguez

JV: Xavier Carrillo

Varsity: O Line (Sergio Rodriguez, Marvin Arello, Edison He, Aris (Lion) Bolton, Rafael Lopez)

🎥 Watch the Key Plays

Catch the highlight reel of this game right here ⬇️

Source

All stats and game details provided by MaxPreps.com.

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