PHOTOS: Santa Ana continues to roll with decisive league win over Calvary Chapel

Santa Ana quarterback Sergio Torres scampers for a long gain during the second quarter. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Santa Ana High’s football team continued to get strong performances offensively, defensively and special teams as the Saints remained undefeated in Orange Coast League play defeating Calvary Chapel 45-0 Friday night before a Homecoming crowd at the Santa Ana Stadium.

Santa Ana quarterback Sergio Torres scored two touchdowns and threw for two TDs and Jayderick Garcia rushed for 189 yards and a touchdown as the Saints (5-2, 3-0) won their fourth consecutive game. The Eagles fell to (3-4, 2-1).

“Our team is playing with more consistency and confidence,” said Torres, who also passed for 127 yards and rushed for 46 yards.  

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

The Hughes brothers: Steven (No. 2) and Michael of Santa Ana with their mother Cristina before the game on senior night.

Calvary Chapel players enter the stadium Friday night.

Calvary Chapoel Coach Jack McInally leads his team into the Santa Ana Stadium.

Calvary Chapel players including No. 78 Nathan Nieves prepare for the game.

Santa Ana senior guard Joel Franco is joined by family members on senior night.

Santa Ana fans prepare for the start of Friday's game.

Joseph Foster, a senior wide receiver and cornerback for Santa Ana, is honored before the game.

Calvary Chapel players head out to the field Friday night.

Santa Ana players prepare for Friday's game with Estancia.

Calvary Chapel quarterback Matt Peters warms up before Friday's game.

Santa Ana's Stephen Hughes prepares for Friday's game.

Santa Ana Coach Charlie TeGantvoort leads his team before the game.

Calvary Chapel fans look on after the end of the first half.

Santa Ana wide receiver Joseph Foster holds on to the ball to score a TD in the closing stages of the first half.

Calvary Chapel head coach Jack McInally looks on.

Santa Ana Saints fans cheer for the home team during Friday night's homecoming game.

Calvary Chapel quarterback Matt Peters stiff arms Saints safety Stephen Hughes.

A Calvary Chapel cheerleader supports the Eagles during a play.

Calvary Chapel quarterback Matt Peters drops back to pass.

Santa Ana defensive end Michael Hugues (5) and teammate Ignacio Marín (9) look at the sidelines for the upcoming play.

Santa Ana spirit members get ready to perform at halftime.

The Santa Ana band performs during a game break.

Santa Ana wide receiver Adrian Sánchez hauls in a catch em route to the end zone for Santa Ana's second TD of the game.

Calvary Chapel running back Waldo Castrejon runs into the Saints defense.

Calvary Chapel captains Alberto Soto, Luke Huffman, Nathan Nieves and Matthew Peters gather before the coin toss.

Santa Ana captains Jayderick García, Adrian Bahena, Kevin Osorio, and Stephen Hughes gather before the coin toss.

Members of the Santa Ana pep squad pose for a photo on Friday Night.

Members of the Calvary Chapel pep squad cheer for the Eagles on Friday night.

Members of both teams go after the ball after Santa Ana blocked a punt during the second quarter of the game.

Santa Ana Players enter the field before Friday Nights homecoming game for the Saints.

Eagles players enter the field before Friday night's contest.

Santa Ana running back Jayderick García gains yards for the Saints.

Former NFL and Cincinnati Bengal legend Pat McInally was in attendance Friday night cheering for the Calvary Chapel Eagles.

The Saints, who have averaged 40 points per game over the past four games, took the opening kickoff and marched 68 yards in 10 plays to take a 7-0 lead. Torres capped the scoring drive by perfectly executing a fake handoff to Garcia into the line and then raced into the end zone from 17 yards for the score.

Moment later, the Saints blocked a Calvary Chapel punt and Santa Ana recovered the ball at the Eagles 45-yard line. Two plays later, Torres completed a 53-yard TD pass to a wide-open Adrian Sanchez, giving the Saints a 14-0 lead at the 3:19 mark of the first quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, Santa Ana linebacker Michael Hughes blocked an Eagles punt and the Saints took over on the Calvary Chapel 25-yard line. Torres scored his second touchdown of the game, culminating a short drive with a 3-yard TD run, upping Santa Ana’s lead to 21-0.

With 17 seconds remaining in the half, Torres tossed a 20-yard TD pass to Joseph Foster on a fourth-down play as the Saints took a commanding 28-0 lead at intermission. Garcia added a 9-yard TD run in the third quarter and Jacob Cervantes also added a TD run in the fourth quarter.   

The Santa Ana defense, led by Michael Hughes, Luis Tlachi and Ignacio Marin, held the Eagles to under 50 yards of offense in the first half. The Saints offensive line of Peleitala FA’Aloua, Jose Martinez, Jonathan Meza, Christian Murillo and Adrian Bahena dominated as Santa Ana compiled 255 yards in the first half and the Saints special teams also blocked two Calvary Chapel punts to set up Santa Ana up with excellent field position.

“We have big goals and in order for us to accomplish those goals we’re going to need all three phases of our team to play well,” said Saints Coach Charlie TeGantvoort.    

Despite the setback, Calvary Chapel coach Jack McInally remained upbeat.    

“Our guys never quit battling and I’m proud of them for that,” McInally said. “Santa Ana has established a proud program and we’re trying to change our culture to move forward.”

The Saints seniors football players, along with the senior cheerleaders and Song Pom squads, were honored in a pregame ceremony.

—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone