Santa Ana High football team following virtual game plan to prepare for next season

Saints Coach Charlie TeGantvoort talks to one of his players last year. (File photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

Like football players throughout Orange County, the Santa Ana Saints are preparing for the start of the season not knowing exactly when they will be back having actual workouts.

Since school is not in session, Coach Charlie TeGantvoort has gone to other methods to prepare his team. The Saints were 6-5 overall last year and finished second in the Orange Coast League with a 4-1 mark.

The Saints are scheduled to open the season on the road against Long Beach Millikan on Friday, Aug.21. But because of concerns about the coronavirus crisis, the first game could be delayed as CIF officials continue to monitor the situation.

“For this upcoming season we are just continuing with our offense, defense, special teams and character meetings that we would normally be having right now for our spring football,” TeGantvoort said this week.

“We are just doing them all now using a virtual platform. The meetings seem to be getting better as we all get use to using these new virtual programs. The players are pushing themselves to make sure that they continue to improve their strength and football abilities, but we all definitely miss being able to get the work done together. 

“That all being said, right now our biggest focus as a coaching staff is to make sure that all of our players and their families are safe, healthy and as happy as possible.  If we can somehow help them get ready for football too, then that is just a plus.”

TeGantvoort remains optimistic about the future.

“Hopefully we will all be back together soon, but whatever is going to happen next for us the Saints will be ready to take it all on together,” he said.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com