ANAHEIM – Santa Ana Valley’s offense started slowly, but it finally got going late in the first quarter, and it combined with a dominating defensive performance to defeat Magnolia, 29-0, in an Orange League game at Western High on Friday night.
The Falcons (3-4-1, 3-0) couldn’t get anything going on their first two possessions, but finally got on the scoreboard late in the first quarter when quarterback Jason Wilkinson threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Malcom Wesley. Wilkinson threw for 174 yards, including a second touchdown, and added a scoring run.
Once their running game got going behind Chris Hernandez, the Falcons took over the game.
Hernandez picked up just 15 yards on his first eight carries, but then started ripping off big chunks of yardage, including a 62-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Hernandez finished with 159 yards on 26 carries.
While the Falcons offense was controlling the ball, the defense was not letting the Sentinels (2-6, 0-3) get anything going. The Sentinels didn’t pick up a first down until there was 9:49 left in the second quarter. They managed only two first downs in the first three quarters.
Late in the half it looked as if the Falcons were about to score their third touchdown in less than four minutes, but the Sentinels came up with two big plays to keep them out of the end zone.
Luis Garcia sacked Wilkinson with less than a minute in the half, then Victor Pina came up with an interception off a tipped pass in the end zone.
