No. 3 Santa Ana rallies to defeat Temecula Valley 21-19 in Division 8 football playoffs and advances to semifinals

Santa Ana’s football team celebrates after Friday’s road victory. (Photos courtesy Luis “Chia” Aduna

Santa Ana’s No. 3 seeded football team is moving on to the semifinal round of the CIF Division 8 playoffs next Friday night on the road against Kaiser.

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

Santa Ana quarterback Julian Gomez (right) and Jesus Cruz visit with coaches after the win.

Santa Ana players celebrate after Friday's victory.

Santa Ana players meet to celebrate the road win.

Coach Charlie TeGantvoort congratulates his players after the road win Friday.

Santa Ana players get together before Friday night's game with Temecula Valley.

The Saints trailed 6-0 at halftime and rallied from a 13-0 deficit to defeat Temecula Valley 21-19 Friday night on the road. Santa Ana had to hold on at the end after Temecula Valley (6-6) scored with under a minute remaining to cut the lead to two points, but the home team was not able to make the two-point conversion to send the game into overtime.

Patrick McMorris had two touchdowns for Santa Ana (10-2) and rushed for 306 yards. McMorris inspired his teammates with the comeback. Quarterback Julian Gomez had one rushing TD for the Saints.

“It was a great team victory,” said Coach Charlie TeGantvoort. “The Saints rose to the occasion being very physical and finding a way to make big time plays. I’m very proud of them.”

The coach said that Drew Ramirez and Bryan Guevara played great in the defensive secondary.