PHOTOS: Santa Ana can’t slow down inspired Millikan in season opener

Millikan quarterback Myles Jackson takes off on a run as the entire Santa Ana defense including No. 7 Luis Tiachi and No. 24 Nathan Ixta pursues him Thursday night. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Quarterback Myles Jackson threw six touchdown passes and Nygel Osborne scored three touchdowns and Matthew Martinez added two scores to lead Long Beach Millikan to a 62-13 victory over Santa Ana High School in the season opener for both teams Thursday night at Santa Ana Stadium.

The Rams jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter and never looked back, avenging a bitter 48-41 loss to the Saints in last year’s season opener.  

Millikan took the opening kickoff and marched 54 yards in five-plays with Jackson capping the drive by tossing a 34-yard TD pass to Martinez. Four minutes later, Osborne scored on a 1-yard TD run to make it 14-0.

In the second quarter, Osborne scored on a 45-yard run, Jackson threw a 50-yard TD pass to Angelo Miranda and added a 20-yard TD strike to Martinez and capped off an impressive first-half with a one-yard touchdown pass to Osborne as the Rams took a commanding 41-0 halftime lead.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Santa Ana's Luis Tlachi tackles Millikan receiver Angelo Miranda at the 1-yard-line.

Millikan receivers Matthew Martinez (17) and Jaden Hunt (13) celebrate after Martinez hauled in a TD reception.

Millikan's Matthew Martinez secures the football for a TD reception.

Millikan quarterback Myles Jackson breaks free for a long scamper.

Santa Ana's Matthew Rivas carries the ball for a small gain.

Millikan's Nygel Osborne breaks free for a 45-yard TD run.

Santa Ana quarterback Sergio Torres encounters pressure from the Millikan defense.

Santa Ana's Charlie TeGantvoort reacts after a Millikan play.

Santa Ana's Jayderick Garcia hauls in a pass for a gain.

Santa Ana's Adrian Sanchez returns a kickoff during the first quarter of the game against Millikan.

Members of the Santa Ana Marching Saints play the National Anthem prior to the game.

Rams receivers celebrate after Matthew Martinez caught his first touchdown of the game.

Rams receiver Matthew Martinez breaks a tackle en route for the end zone.

Santa Ana players come out before the game.

Santa Ana fans cheer for their team.

Santa Ana players meet before the game.

Santa Ana captains from left Stephen Hughes, Peleitala Fa'Alou, Kevin Osorio and Michael Hughes represent the Saints for the coin toss.

Santa Ana players prepare for Friday's opener.

Jackson tossed TD passes of 23 and 60 yards in the third quarter to Jordan Anderson and James Hunt and scored on an 8-yard touchdown run.

The Rams junior quarterback completed 21 of 27 passes for 417 yards in the game, along with his six TD passes. Jackson also rushed eight times for 80 yards. Osborne rushed for 76 yards and two TDs and Miranda caught six passes for 121 yards and a TD for the Rams.

“Myles is a great leader and our captain and he runs the ship,” said Rams Coach Romeo Pellum. “He’s in control; he’s knows the offense and he’s more comfortable, and I will put our receiving corps up against anybody’s in the nation.”  

Millikan outgained the Saints 407-62 yards in the opening half. 

Santa Ana scored twice in the final quarter, once on a 55-yard TD pass from Sergio Torres to Joseph Foster and on a 16-yard touchdown run by Jacob Cervantes. Torres, who threw for 1,745 yards and 28 touchdowns last season, completed 15 passes for 179 yards a TD. Foster caught seven passes for 117 yards and a TD.  

“We have a lot of young guys who haven’t played much football and they have nine players who have Division 1 scholarship offers and sometimes this happens when you have a young team,” said Saints Coach Charlie TeGantvoort. “Our guys never stopped playing hard, and I hope we learn a lesson from it.”

—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone