Jason Costa of Santa Ana gains yards in Friday’s game with Garden Grove. (Photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)
Santa Ana’s football team exploded for four touchdowns in the second quarter to break open a close game and went on to defeat Garden Grove 55-13 in a non-league game Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium.
Jason Costa, Raul Alvarez and Imanol Torres each scored two touchdowns apiece to lead the Saints (2-1).
“Even when we went up, we told the guys don’t be satisfied and don’t get comfortable, good teams can come back,” said Costa.
Imanol Torres also had a similar message for his teammates.
“It was a good team win, but we still have a lot of work to do,” Torres added.
On its opening possession of the game, Santa Ana marched 85 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown. Costa was the workhorse as he carried 6 times for 51 yards, including 4-yard TD run to cap the scoring drive.
Alvarez recovered the ensuing onside kick and the Santa Ana offense was on the move again. The Saints needed only seven plays before they upped their lead to 14-0, following a 25-yard TD run by QB Sergio Torres on the first play of the second quarter.
The Argonauts (1-1) countered with a 70-yard scoring drive, capped off by a 1-yard TD run by Daniel Martinez to cut the lead to 14-7.
Then the tide of the game suddenly changed.
The Saints responded immediately as Imanol Torres returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown to give Santa Ana a 21-7 lead.
Moments later, following a Garden Grove turnover, Costa rambled 48 yards for his second touchdown of the game, increasing the Saints lead to 28-7. Santa Ana’s defense forced a second fumble, this time, linebacker Jesus Olvera scooped up the loose ball and returned it 20 yards for a score as the Saints bolted to a 34-7 lead at halftime.
Imanol Torres caught a 40-yard TD pass from Sergio Torres in the third quarter. Alvarez added TD runs of 13 and 60 yards for the Saints in the fourth quarter.
Costa rushed for 124 yards and Alvarez added 108 yards. Sergio Torres completed 7 of 8 passes for 108 yards and a TD for Santa Ana. Vany Rodriguez completed 20 passes for 185 yards and a TD for Garden Grove. Malachi Bey led the Argonauts with 63 yards rushing and he caught 7 passes for 51 yards.
“I thought all three phases of our game were focused tonight,” said Saints coach Charlie TeGantvoort. “We left points on the field last week but we cleaned it up and finished the game tonight.”
—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone
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