Orange running back Ardwon Morris takes off on a 51-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).
Orange High School’s football team capitalized on three Santa Ana miscues and went on to defeat the Saints 35-0 to capture the Orange Coast League title Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium.
Both teams went into the game undefeated in league play.
Panthers defensive back Jaelen Lightfoot had two interceptions and blocked a punt that Orange (8-2, 6-0) converted into three touchdowns. The Panthers earned the league title for the second consecutive season and extended their winning streak to seven games. Santa Ana had its six-game winning streak snapped and fell to 7-3 and 5-1.
Both teams are headed to the CIF playoffs.
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“We expected to win this; we’re not surprised, this is normal for us” said Lightfoot. “We prepared hard for this game and I just did my part.”
The Panthers took advantage of two Saints turnovers in the first quarter to build an early lead.
On Santa Ana’s opening possession, Saints quarterback Sergio Torres’ pass was deflected and intercepted by Lightfoot who returned it 33-yards to the Saints 32-yard line.
Two plays later, Panthers quarterback Hype Grand (125 yards passing and 2 TD passes) darted into the end zone on a 9-yard touchdown run. Orange added a two-point conversion and led 8-0.
On the Saints second possession, the Santa Ana moved the ball down to the Panthers 24-yard line, but Lightfoot stepped in front of a Torres pass and returned it 75-yards for a touchdown.
However, the touchdown was nullified by a Panthers penalty. Orange took over possession of the ball and methodically moved down field 96-yards in 13-plays to take a 14-0 lead with 7:57 left in the half. The drive was sparked by two fourth-down conversions, one coming at the Panthers 11-yard line. Grand completed the drive with a 33-yard TD pass to Jonathan Smith.
Joseph Foster replaced Torres, who injured his collar bone and left the game at quarterback in the second quarter, but the Santa Ana offense struggled to get on track.
“Sergio (Torres) went to the doctor’s; you can’t play when you’re hurt, we hope he’s going to be OK, but we don’t know what to expect,” said Saints Coach Charlie TeGantvoort.
Orange’s running back Kobe Boykin added a four-yard TD run with under a minute to play in the half as the Panthers took a 21-0 lead at intermission. Orange outgained the Saints 166-49 in the first half.
Play got chippy in the third quarter with both teams being flagged for multiple penalties.
Lightfoot’s heroics continued in the third quarter when he blocked a Saints punt. One play later, following two Orange personal foul penalties on the block kick recovery, Ardwon Morris blasted 51-yards off tackle for a touchdown to help the Panthers increase their lead to 28-0.
Santa Ana forced two turnovers in the third quarter but couldn’t convert. Grand increased Orange’s lead to 35-0 on a 68-yard TD pass to Smith in the final quarter.
“We came out and dominated from the outset,” said Orange Coach Robert Pedroza. “Our O-line and ground game has improved and our defense was hitting”.
Boykin, Grand and Morris combined to rush for 186 yards and three touchdowns.
Following the game, TeGantvoort, the Santa Ana coach, expressed frustration with the Orange’s behavior during the game.
“It’s hard to play a team like that; they’re out there pushing guys after the play and laughing at you and they’re getting away with it; let’s just leave it at that,” TeGantvoort said.
—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone
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