ANAHEIM – Reasons why Edson Velasquez was on the All-Golden West League first team in 2013 were numerous. Reasons why he might not return to it this season were also abundant – until Friday night.
Finally, Velasquez was able to display the immense prowess he has given Loara the past three seasons during the Saxons’ 27-14 defeat of Orange at Glover Stadium.
Seven catches, 194 yards receiving, a 77-yard catch-and-run score, a 54-yard touchdown on a punt return and a vital interception in the third quarter all came from the senior who was making his 30th varsity start.
“My stats last year were better, but I still think I’m much, much improved from back then,” Velasquez said.
The experience level Loara (1-8, 1-3) has as a team dipped quite a bit after Velasquez’s strong junior season, which included 12 touchdown catches.
“He’s always played hard for us,” Loara quarterback Andrew Mendoza said of Velasquez. “It’s a guy like him that makes this the kind of group that was 0-8 and still played our butts off tonight.”
Orange (1-8, 0-4) was overwhelmed early and often by the Saxons. Loara went up 27-0 with 2:40 left in the first half on a trick play in which running back Josh Moran threw a 30-yard completion that Velasquez extended 47 more yards for a touchdown.
The Panthers mounted a quick rally in the second half but were stonewalled by a Velasquez interception in the end zone with Orange down 27-7.
Moran contributed 111 yards on 24 carries. Moran and Eli Lev also caused fumbles that both resulted in Orange turnovers in the first half.
