ANAHEIM – Quarterback Brandon Lopez passed for 231 yards and two touchdowns and tailback Joel Montes de Oca’s 57-yard touchdown run wrapped up Anaheim’s 28-18 victory over Santa Ana Valley in an Orange League opener Friday night at Glover Stadium.
Lopez, a strong-armed, 6-foot, 170-pound junior, completed 10 of 15 and didn’t have an interception. He also was outstanding at safety, punted and blocked a PAT.
Montes de Oca broke loose for his touchdown on the first play following Raymond Serna’s second interception. It put Anaheim (4-1, 1-0) ahead, 28-6, with 3:05 remaining.
Santa Ana Valley (3-3, 0-1) scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes. Louis Aceves scored on a 16-yard run at 2:08 and Juan Diaz turned a short pass into a 52-yard touchdown from quarterback Edgar Astorga with 40 seconds remaining.
Anaheim recovered an onside kick and Lopez took two knees to run out the clock on a homecoming night with alum and former New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel in the stands.
Anaheim led, 21-6, at halftime on the strength of Lopez’s 180 yards passing.
Lopez threw deep on third-and-13 on the game’s third offensive play and Diaz ran under it to make the catch and ran untouched to complete the 72-yard touchdown play.
Anaheim marched 66 yards on 10 plays on its next possession, scoring on Robert Barajas’ 13-yard catch with 4:33 left in the first quarter.
Santa Ana Valley took advantage of the lone turnover in the half for its touchdown. Joseph Pham recovered a fumble at the Anaheim 22 and the Falcons made a first down at the 10.
On fourth-and-13, Astorga rolled out and found Cesar Ibarra in the end zone for the touchdown with 3:20 left in the half.
Anaheim third touchdown came on a 15-yard run by Aaron Luna.
