PHOTOS: Top-seeded Santa Ana battles back and defeats Fillmore in CIF playoff opener

Santa Ana’s Stephen Hughes (No. 2) celebrates with wide receiver Joseph Foster (No. 10) after a 9-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter that tied the score at 7-7. Both later connected in the fourth quarter to lead the Saints to a victory. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Santa Ana High School’s football team held off an upset bid by Fillmore and captured a 14-7 victory in the opening round of the CIF Division 10 playoffs Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium.

The top-seeded Saints (8-3) advance to meet Palmdale on the road in the quarterfinals next week.

Starting quarterback Sergio Torres was injured in last week’s game and was replaced Friday night by Stephen Hughes, according to Saints Coach Charlie TeGantvoort. Hughes only had four days to prepare for the Saints offensive game plan.

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Santa Ana had more than 250 yards rushing with S. Hughes and Jayderick García leading the way, and as a team and rallied from a 7-0 halftime deficit. David Jimenez scored the TD for the Fillmore Flashes (8-3) on a 3-yard TD run in the second quarter.

The Flashes had a golden chance to take a 10 point lead in the third quarter, but the 42-yard field goal attempt came up short.

That sparked the Saints to rally and score two touchdowns in the second half with Stephen Hughes connecting with Joseph Foster on both scores. He hit Foster on a 13-yard TD pass to put Santa Ana ahead with 9:21 remaining in the game.

Hughes had 108 yards passing and there was great defense led by Michael Hughes and Kevin Osorio, the coach said.

“It was great to see our team rally together and overcome adversity to pull off a great playoff win against a great Fillmore team,” TeGantvoort told OC Sports Zone about an hour after the game in a text.

Santa Ana was able to finish strong after four turnovers in the first half (one interception, and three turnovers on downs).

Meanwhile Fillmore’s head coach Charlie Weis said he was satisfied with the Flashes’ performance and proud of its accomplishments during the course of the season which included finishing undefeated in league (4-0), and the Citrus Coast championship banner.

“I am extremely proud of the fight and heart our kids showed against a school that is four times our size, was five divisions higher than us last year, and six divisions higher than us in the previous playoff system,” said Weis via text message following the game. 

“Sometimes you can end up with less points and still win. The way our small school played tonight leaves me with nothing but pride and respect for the efforts of our student athletes.”

— Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone