SANTA ANA – Saddleback snapped a 14-game losing streak dating back two seasons, defeating La Quinta, 48-13, Thursday night in a nonleague game at Segerstrom.
“We had a 14-game losing streak that we just broke tonight,” said Saddleback coach Rob Thompson. “Now, that’s out of our minds, it’s the past and we’re moving on.”
Saddleback was winless last year, lost the last three games of 2012 and its opener last week to Aquinas.
Saddleback (1-1) got a strong performance from QB Johnny Rojas, who passed for 229 yards and three touchdowns, all to receiver Bryan Salcido.
Salcido, who sat out last week’s opener with a concussion, had eight catches for 192 yards.
Rojas and Salcido connected on a 50-yard TD play late in the second half to put the Roadrunners ahead, 28-13.
“We ran into a tough team last week,” Thompson said. “Our defense played great and our offense played terrible. Tonight, our offense played great and our defense played average, but we got it done.”
Saddleback also got a strong performance from Daniel Porras, who rushed for 140 yards and scored two touchdowns.
La Quinta (0-1) scored first when Vinny Tran had a 4-yard TD run with 7:31 left in the game. But the Roadrunners offense took over after that.
“It’s a different team, we have Bryan (Salcido) and we have Rojas,” Thompson said. “Overall, I thought the defense played great and Eddie Flores had three interceptions.”
Tran rushed for 103 yards on six carries to lead La Quinta (0-1).
Contact the writer: tburt@ocregister.com
