ANAHEIM – Orange completed its regular season Thursday by blowing out Loara, 50-6, in a Golden West League game Thursday night at Glover Stadium.
The Panthers improved to 7-3 and are ranked No. 5 in this week’s CIF-Southern Section Division 13 rankings. But their 2-3 league record puts them fourth in league and may not get them into the playoffs. Orange must hope it can get into the 16-team bracket as an at-large entry in a division that has 85 schools.
(The playoff brackets will be announced Sunday morning and will be published at ocvarsity.com.)
Miguel Orendain, playing quarterback and running back, scored three touchdowns on 25-, 5- and 11-yard runs and also had 51-yard punt return for the Panthers. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound sophomore rushed 16 times for 119 yards and completed 12 of 17 passes for 145 yards.
Orange running back Brandon Warren, a 6-foot, 165-pound senior, added touchdown runs of 38 and 10 yards. He gained 130 yards on 11 carries and had a 38-yard reception from Orendain.
Fullback Luis Correa scored on a 1-yard run to give Orange a 29-0 lead.
Loara (1-9, 0-5) scored its touchdown on a 28-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Matt Blackney to senior wide receiver Omar Paniagua in the third period.
Orange’s defense limited the Saxons to 144 yards in total offense, 96 passing and 48 rushing. The Panthers’ Elijah Wilson had two interceptions.
The Panthers marched 73 yards on seven plays on their first possession, scoring on Orendain’s 25-yard roll-out.
Orendain’s punt return was Orange’s next score. After fielding the kick, he went upfield and approached a cluster of Loara defenders. He hesitated and broke to the right and burst past them into the open.
Warren’s 38-yard touchdown was Orange’s third and put the Panthers on top 22-0 with 11:38 remaining in the second period.
