FULLERTON — After every Thursday practice, Valley Center High School football coach Bill Dunckel tells his team to “find a way to win by one.”
That’s exactly what the Jaguars did Friday night, using five plays to go 78 yards, with Joeisha Ryan Tirado going the final 14 yards for a 36-35 win over San Jose Lincoln.
The win at Fullerton College, in a game that saw nine lead changes, gives Valley Center (9-5) the Division 6-AA state football championship.
“A one-point win is a win,” a hoarse Dunckel said as he pointed to the scoreboard. “Of course, you’d rather make it easy and win by 20, but a one-point win is a win.”
Valley Center trailed 35-29 after Lincoln drove 92 yards, scoring on a 2-yard run by Kyan Phillips with 1:47 to play. Valley Center’s Joaquin Stehly blocked the ensuing PAT, however, keeping the lead at six points.
Valley Center then went to work from its own 22-yard line. Quarterback Braylon Mitchell completed passes for 17, 10, 4 and 16 yards. The Jaguars also benefited from a 15-yard Lincoln penalty.
With the ball on the Lincoln 14 and the clock running out, the Jaguars handed the ball to Tirado, who bullied his way into the end zone for his third touchdown of the game.
“No doubt, I wanted the ball there,” Tirado said. “I was cramping the worst I’ve ever cramped in a game. I was letting my team down by not being on the field. I had to score.”
Valley Center’s Jesse Morales #6, center, takes a closer look at the trophy after the Jaguars defeated San Jose Lincoln during the Division 6-AA State Championship at Fullerton College on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 in Fullerton, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
With the score tied at 35, it was up to Valley Center’s Jesse Morales to win the game with a PAT.
Following a pair of offside penalties against Lincoln, Morales drilled the game-winner.
“Our regular kicker (Bryan Penaloza) got hurt a few games ago and the coaches asked me to kick,” Morales said. “It’s not something I enjoy, but the team needed me. I wasn’t nervous until Lincoln jumped twice. So I told myself to calm down. I had to keep my cool and get the job done.”
Morales, a receiver by trade, entered the game with 85 catches for 1,361 yards and 15 TDs.
Morales didn’t have a catch in the first half. He had six for 134 yards and a finger-tip 54-yard TD strike from Mitchell in the secocnd.
“Lincoln was taking away the deep stuff in the first half, playing a lot of zone, and we just weren’t clicking. We made some adjustments at halftime to get me more involved,” Morales said.
Lincoln hit Valley Center with four big pass plays and led 16-13 at the half.
Quarterback Luca Papoulias completed passes 68, 46, 34 and 25 yards and had 199 passing yards at the break.
The 68-yarder came with 1:11 left in the half, when he found Kyan Phillips open over the middle and Phillips outran the defense to the end zone. The 34-yarder went to Michael Whitelaw and helped set up the first score of the game, a 1-yard run by Phillips which capped a 14-play, 88-yard drive. The 46-yarder went to Lucas Martinez and led to a Lincoln field goal.
Valley Center scored on two short runs by Tirado, one for 5 yards and another for 4. He had 14 carries for 113 yards at the break.
Tirado, who also plays on the defensive line, had 24 carries for 193 yards and three TDs. He also caught two passes for 25 yards.
Morales had six catches for 134 yards, giving him 91 receptions and 1,495 yards for the season.
Mitchell completed 15 of 24 passes for 307 yards, giving him 3,302 yards for the season. He had a 52-yard connection to Joaquin Stehly and 42 yards to Gauge Wright.
Valley Center’s Joeisha Ryan Tirado #7 and Peyton Stroh #72 celebrate after a touchdown against San Jose Lincoln during the Division 6-AA State Championship at Fullerton College on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 in Fullerton, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Tirado recovered a fumble, while Cooper Chaney and Casen Dunham both intercepted passes.
Dunham’s pick ended the game.
Papoulias completed 16 of 22 passes for 328 yards, but was intercepted twice.
Phillips had 23 carries for 109 yards and two TDs, caught four passes for 126 yards and had a 93-yard kickoff return.
Division 6-AA State Football Championship Game
At Fullerton College
Valley Center 36, San Jose Lincoln 35
San Jose Lincoln 6 10 13 6 – 35
Valley Center 7 6 16 7 – 36
L – Phillips 1 run (kick failed)
VC – Tirado 5 (Morales kick)
L – Molina 31 FG
VC – Tirado 4 (kick failed)
L – Phillips 68 pass from Papoulias (Molina kick)
VC – Tirado 19 (Jo. Stehly pass from Mitchell)
L – Martinez 4 run (pass failed)
VC – Morales 54 pass from Mitchell (Vose pass from Mitchell)
L – Phillips 93 kickoff return (Molina kick)
L – Phillips 2 run (kick failed)
VC – Tirado 14 run (Morales kick)