Aldo Leyva of Santa Ana carries for a 24-yard gain on a quarterback keeper to set up a second quarter touchdown. (Photos Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)
Santa Ana High’s football team looked like it might be in for a battle Thursday night in an Orange Coast League game against previously undefeated and much improved Calvary Chapel.
To see the slide show, please click on the first photo
But the Saints stifled the Eagles offense, which had been averaging more than 44 points a game and the running game excelled behind some excellent blocking to help Santa Ana capture a 35-6 victory over the upstart Eagles at Orange Coast College.
Santa Ana forced four five turnovers: four fumbles and an interception. The game was played without a functional scoreboard. The score and time was kept on the field by referees.
The Saints’ defense set the tone early.
“Coach (Dee) Meza had those guys ready,” said Santa Ana Coach Charlie TeGantvoort. “It’s something that we focused on. With Joseph Garcia, flying around and ripping the ball out, I felt like we created turnovers tonight instead of just letting them happen.”
Jesus Olvera also had an interception for Santa Ana (4-3, 2-0).
Santa Ana got strong efforts from Jason Costa (104 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns) and Miguel Vaca (81 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns).
Calvary Chapel (6-1, 1-1) was led by quarterback Ian Capuano, who completed 10 of 18 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown.
“We challenged our line on both sides of the ball to step up,” TeGantvoort said. “We want to stop the run, we want to put pressure on the quarterback and we want to be able to run the football. Santa Ana is all about running the football and playing great defense and I thought we took a good step in that direction tonight.”
Costa led the way early with touchdown runs of 8 in the first quarter and 2 in the second quarter. He also had a fumble recovery.
“If it wasn’t for my O-line I wouldn’t have scored,” Costa said. “Big props to them. They work hard every practice and I owe them one every game, they work hard. We’re getting there. We still have our ups and downs. Today we executed and did what we had do and played our best.”
Santa Ana held a 14-0 lead at halftime and continued its solid play in the third quarter. Daniel Avalos had a 3-yard TD run and Vaca had a a 17-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter and a 6-yard TD in the fourth quarter.
Calvary Chapel broke the shutout when Capuano connected with Jacob Sutika on a 30-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter.
Santa Ana quarterback Aldo Leyva passed for 52 yards and also had a key 24-yard run which set up a Saints score in the first half. Pablo Perez hauled in three catches for 35 yards.
-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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