SANTA ANA – The dark days of the 2015 season finally are over for Santa Ana Valley.
The Falcons – who had gone without a win in their their first five contests – ended their season-long slide with a convincing 42-7 triumph over Savanna on Friday in the Orange League opener for both teams at Santa Ana Valley High.
Junior tailback Chris Hernandez rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, and sophomore quarterback Jason Wilkenson – playing in his first game since transferring from Godinez – was stellar, completing 12 of 18 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns.
“We knew (Wilkenson) could throw the ball, and we knew we had some guys who can catch it, so we kind of figured we could have a game like this,” said Falcons coach Larry Mohr.
Santa Ana Valley (1-4-1, 1-0) scored more points in the first half than it has in any full game this season. With the help of three Savanna turnovers, the Falcons scored on all five of its possessions in the first 24 minutes.
Hernandez initiated the rout with touchdown runs of 4 and 24 yards. Santa Ana Valley poured it on in the second as Wilkenson hit Malcom Wesley for touchdown passes of 78 and 21 yards, and Sherman Thomas for 30 yards.
Savanna (2-4, 0-1) scored in the third quarter on a 39-yard touchdown pass from senior Nate Gonzalez to senior Robert Mounce.
Contact the writer: magarcia@ocregister.com
