Savanna can't stop S.A. Valley's Nacoste

SANTA ANA — Before Saturday’s Orange League game at Santa Ana Stadium, Savanna coach Roger Whalen said that his team needed to contain Santa Ana Valley running back Darius Nacoste for his team to be successful.

Whalen had good reason to be concerned.

Nacoste returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, rushed for 250 yards and added three more touchdowns as the Falcons defeated the Rebels, 40-21.

“Isn’t he (Nacoste) something?” said Valley coach Larry Mohr said?. “When I think of the top five guys I’ve coached in the last 28 years, he (Nacoste) comes to mind.”

Nacoste has rushed for 1,315 yards and scored 17 touchdowns this season.

After the Rebels tied the score at 7-7 on Anthony Doomes’ touchdown run in the first quarter, Valley scored four unanswered consecutive touchdowns including two TDs following after Rebels’ turnovers.

Midway through the opening quarter, Nacoste broke a 59-yard touchdown run up the middle. Fernando Salgado then added a 3-yard TD run to give the Falcons a 20-7 lead.

Nacoste and Salgado added TD runs of four4 and 36 yards in the second quarter. Jeremiah Rideaux scored on a one1-yard run late in the quarter for Savanna but the Rebels trailed, 34-14, at the half.

Nacoste scored his final touchdown on a 50-yard run late in the third quarter.

Doomes led Savanna with 132 yards rushing.

“If we are going to win league and go to the playoffs we knew we had to win this game,” said Nacoste. “It’s huge win for us.”