SANTA ANA – Santa Ana Valley recovered three fumbles, one of which was returned for a touchdown, allowed 125 total yards and scored 28 consecutive points as it routed Santa Ana, 35-6, in a CIF-SS Southern Division first-round game at the Santa Ana Sports Complex on Friday night.
The Falcons (5-5-1) started their 28-0 run on an 8-yard pass from sophomore Jason Wilkinson to Jimmy Mendoza midway through the second quarter that stretched their lead to 14-6, capping a 10-play, 77-yard series that lasted 5:11. Wilkinson completed all three passes thrown in the drive while Santa Ana Valley converted twice on third down.
Wilkinson went 13 for 16 for 195 yards and two touchdowns while Mendoza ended with two catches for 51 yards.
Cesar Martinez recovered a Chris Hernandez fumble on the Santa Ana Valley 26, setting up the Saints’ lone score of the contest. Four plays later, junior Jonathan Briseño ran from 3 yards out to cut Santa Ana’s deficit to 7-6 just six seconds into the second.
Briseño led Santa Ana (8-3) with 104 yards on 22 carries and sophomore quarterback Pablo Aguirre racked up 12 rushes for 57 carries.
Wilkinson completed his first eight passes for 134 yards. His fourth pass, a 7-yarder, connected with Hernandez to put the Falcons up 7-0 in the first quarter. Two conversions on third down and another on fourth down keyed their first scoring drive of the game.
Hernandez also ran 31 times for 115 yards, a game high, including a 3-yard rush that increased Santa Ana Valley’s advantage to 21-6 with 3:44 left in the third.
Oscar Avila helped the Falcons earn their spot in the quarterfinals with a fumble recovery that he returned for 22 yards, pushing their lead to 28-6 early in the fourth.
Prior to Friday’s game, Santa Ana and Santa Ana Valley hadn’t faced each other since Sept. 6, 2007, a game that the Falcons won, 18-0.
The Falcons have now taken five out of their past six games.
Santa Ana Valley will host Garden Grove on Nov. 20.
