PHOTOS: Santa Ana’s win over Garden Grove memorable for coach and running back

Santa Ana running back Carlos Guerrero carries the ball as Garden Grove defenders Quentin Pacelli (4), and Evan Torres (3) pursue during the first quarter Friday night. (PHOTOS: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

For Santa Ana High’s football coach Luis Cruz and running back Carlos Guerrero Friday’s night 20-19 non-league win at Garden Grove will be a game they’ll never forget.

Cruz earned his first win as a head coach and Guerrero set a career-high with 265 yards rushing and tied a career-high with three touchdowns. The Saints (1-2) have defeated the Argonauts in four of their last five meetings.

“Carlos is a kid who works year-round; he’s the first kid in the weight room and the last kid out,” said Cruz, who was on the Santa Ana coaching staff for the last four year before getting promoted this year. “This kid defines toughness. He was third string as a freshman, and he missed his sophomore year with a broken collar bone. He just kept working hard. It’s great to get my first win, but we have a lot of mistakes to fix and they’re fixable. I’m happy with the win and happy that everyone contributed.”

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

Guerrero was the workhorse for the Saints as he carried the ball 21 times in the second half. After Santa Ana fell behind 13-7 in the third quarter, Guerrero rallied the Saints by scoring two touchdowns on runs of 24 and six yards to put Santa Ana up 20-13 after three quarters. 

“The wide receivers made great blocks down field and the O-line was awesome; it feels amazing to win this game,” said Guerrero, a senior. “We all played all the way to the end, every play.”

Trailing 20-13 midway through the fourth quarter, Garden Grove went on a nine-play 57-yard scoring drive. Sophomore quarterback Calvin Keovphan capped the march by tossing a four-yard TD pass to Aaron Payan with 6:23 to play. However, a fumbled snap on the extra point prevented Garden Grove from tying the score and they trailed 20-19.

The Saints countered with a 10-play time-consuming drive, but Guerrero was stopped short of a first down on a fourth down run. The Argonauts took over possession at their 37-yard line with 1:08 remaining, but Keovphan’s fourth-down pass was intercepted by Erick Ugalde to secure the win.

Santa Ana sophomore defensive lineman Troy Alvarez also played a huge role in the Saints victory. Alvarez had a key interception to foil an Argonauts drive deep in Santa Ana territory in the second quarter. He also had a crippling sack on Garden Grove’s final possession of the game.

“Carlos (Guerrero) set the tone on offense for us and that inspired the defense,” said Alvarez. “We know we can still have a great season.”

The Saints broke on top on the games’ opening possession. Guerrero displayed his speed and flashy cutback skills en route to a 66-yard TD run on the third play of the game, giving Santa Ana a 7-0 lead.   

Garden Grove had several golden scoring opportunities in the second quarter as the Saints began three series in Santa Ana territory.

The Argonauts first opportunity came up empty when a fourth down pass fell incomplete in the end zone. A second opportunity came up short as well midway through the quarter, the Argonauts drove to the Saints 10-yard line, but Alvarez made a leaping interception.

Garden Grove finally broke through when Keovphan completed a 14-yard TD pass over the middle to Quentin Pacelli with seven seconds remaining in the half to tie the game at 7-7 at intermission. Keovphan threw three TD passes in the game and Pacelli had 72 yards rushing.  

The Argonauts (1-2) took the second half kickoff and marched 61 yards in three plays to take a 13-7 lead. Aaron Payan caught a short pass over the middle and outran the Saints secondary 55 yards down the sidelines for a touchdown. However, Garden Grove missed the PAT. Payan caught three passes for 65 yards and two TDs in the game.

Argonauts first year head coach Matthew LemMon said his team will rebound.

“Our team knows they are capable of playing better,” said LemMon. “We get out here tomorrow at 9 a.m. and start to fix the problems. We’re having some growing pains.”

NOTES: Due to the excessive heat in OC, Friday’s game starting time was moved back to 7:30 p.m. …. Garden Grove starters Christian Mendoza (knee) and Malikai Beatty (broken collar bone) were not able to play due to injuries suffered last week. Their return is to be determined …. Santa Ana had zero returning starters on offense this season and only two returning starters on defense.