Orange players (from left) Isacc Galvan, Andrew Andrade and Daylen Pedroza contributed to the Panthers victory Thursday. (Photos Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)
Orange High’s football team showed early it wasn’t about to look past Calvary Chapel with an Orange Coast League showdown looming next week against Santa Ana.
The Panthers struck for two touchdowns in the first quarter on their way to a 53-7 Orange Coast League victory over Calvary Chapel Thursday night at Segerstrom.
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Orange Coach Robert Pedroza congratulated his players after the game and pointed to the game his team has been waiting for all year, a match-up next Friday with co-league leader Santa Ana at Chapman. The defending league champion Saints (5-3, 3-0) play Estancia Friday night at Costa Mesa aiming to keep pace with the Panthers, who are looking for their first league title since 2003.
It may not have been the best effort of the year for Orange (8-1, 4-0) but it was certainly good enough to win against the upstart Calvary Chapel team (7-2, 2-2) on a hot and windy night. It was Calvary Chapel’s home game and senior night for the Eagles.
“I don’t think we came out very sharp tonight,” Coach Pedroza said. “We made some mistakes early with turnovers and taking some bad sacks. We just weren’t sharp in the beginning and that’s a good football team. The turnaround they’ve had from last year to this year is tremendous.
“So we knew we were going to be in for a game tonight and it was a good game.”
Orange had too many weapons led by Isacc Galvan, who rushed for 281 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns. Galvan had TD runs of 35 and 22 in the first half to help Orange move out to a 32-0 lead. He also hauled in three catches for 94 yards.
“The line was making the holes and I was just running through,” Galvan said. “Owe it all to my O-Line.”
In most of the games, Orange substituted in the third quarter with a big lead but Thursday night, the starters got a workout. A running clock was used in the fourth quarter.
“This was the second full game that we played, so it feels good to play a whole game actually,” Galvan said.
Quarterback Daylen Pedroza also had a big game for the Panthers, completing 9 of 16 passes for 195 yards. He also rushed for 98 yards on 16 carries and had TD runs of 15 in the first quarter and 11 and 36 in the third quarter.
Orange senior Andrew Andrade had another big game too hauling in three catches for 49 yards and rushing for 47 yards on three carries. Andrade scored the Panthers first TD on a 4-yard run in the first quarter.
“We dominated our opponent and it started in the weight room and it started for practice and we just trusted our coaches and we did what we needed to do to play Panther football,” Andrade said.
Andrade and his teammates can now focus on Santa Ana.
“Although we just ended a game, it starts now,” Andrade said. “We’re ready for them. Just a week of practice to fix some little things and then we’re going to be more than ready for them.”
“We got to step up and be prepared,” Galvan added.
Jeremiah Rivera scored Orange’s other TD on a 1-yard TD run late in the third quarter to put the Panthers ahead 53-7.
Coach Pedroza was pleased with the defensive effort led by linebackers Christopher Quiroga, Nathan Cook and Jeremiah Rivera, defensive end Blaze Iglesias, lineman Joseph Aguillera and defensive back Issac Adetoye.
“We had hats to the ball at all times,” the coach said. “It was nice to see tonight.”
Calvary Chapel, with a solid overall record, could be a solid contender for a playoff berth.
The Eagles were led by quarterback Ian Capuano, who passed for 100 yards and threw a 14-yard TD pass to Sky Oliver late in the first half.
Oliver had two catches for 43 yards while Gavin Price had four catches for 39 yards.
“We knew they were a very talented team and very explosive and our depth would eventually be a challenge,” said Calvary Chapel Coach Pat McInally. “I thought we played most of the first half really well. I was glad we scored. The kids fought hard but they’re just very talented and physical and they’re a few divisions above us plus they’re really good, a strong Division 10 team.
“We just got to regroup physically and mentally and get ready for Saddleback and hopefuly go 8-2 and get into the playoffs.”
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-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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