YORBA LINDA – Fairmont Prep used a combination of physical defense and big plays to beat Santa Clara of Oxnard, 55-7, on Saturday at Yorba Linda High.
Fairmont Prep (3-2) rushed for 320 yards and held Santa Clara to just 146 yards of offense.
Kiki Mendoza rushed for 150 yards on eight carries with three touchdowns.
“All my success goes to my lineman. They do their job and it helps me do mine,” Mendoza said.
The Huskies hadn’t played a game since September 10th.
They had a bye week and won a forfeit against Blair last week. Coach Fred Romo felt his team was a little out of sync early.
“We were a little rusty at first. After we shook the rust off we played physical and hard,” Romo said.
The rust didn’t affect the Huskies for long. They struck first when defensive back Albert Chavez recovered a fumble and returned it 52-yards to take a 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing possession, Ramsey Glover intercepted a pass and returned it for a 36-yard touchdown to put Fairmont ahead 14-0.
On Fairmont’s second offensive play, Mendoza ran up the middle for a 49-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 21.
After forcing a third consecutive three-and-out on defense, Glover scored on a 29-yard sweep to put Fairmont ahead 28-0.
After forcing a Santa Clara punt, Mendoza returned the kick 29 yards to give the Huskies the ball deep into Saints territory. Quarterback Darwyn Gines scored on a 2-yard run to extend the lead to 35.
Mendoza scored from 28 yards out to put the Huskies up 42 at halftime.
“Our two running backs were hitting the hole and going,” Romo said. “We are starting to see the team’s hard work coming through.”
