PREP FOOTBALL : Century League : Santa Ana Runs Through Foothill : Lee (225 Yards, 4 Touchdowns) Leads Saints to 34-18 Win

If any doubts remained about Robert Lee’s return to form, Lee erased them, just as he erased the staunch defense that faced him Friday night.

In the first five games of the season, Santa Ana High School’s Lee struggled. Since Century League play began three weeks ago, however, Lee has been running with a vengeance.

Friday against Foothill, Lee rushed for 225 yards and 4 touchdowns in 21 carries to lead Santa Ana to a 34-18 win in front of about 3,000 at Tustin High School.

For Lee, it was the third consecutive league game in which he has rushed for over 200 yards and scored 4 touchdowns. On the season, Lee now has 835 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing.

Scoring on runs of 11 and 14 yards in the first half and twice on 55-yard runs in the second half, Lee single-handedly kept Foothill at bay.

Foothill closed to within three points, 21-18, late in the fourth quarter before Lee ripped off the two long scoring runs to put the game out of reach.

Lee’s totals are all the more remarkable when you consider that Foothill, the defending Century League champion, is a program that prides itself on strong defenses, ones that are capable of meeting most any challenge.

Foothill knew Lee was coming, probably knew the very plays he was going to run, but ultimately could not stop the 6-0, 210-pound junior tailback.

Santa Ana scored on its first possession and never trailed.

The Saints’ Bobby Joyce kicked a 34-yard field goal midway through the first quarter to stake Santa Ana to a 3-0 lead.Lee’s 11-yard touchdown run upped the lead to 9-0.

Foothill made it 9-3 midway through the second quarter on a 22-yard field goal by Scott Ball, but the remainder of the half belonged to the Saints.

Santa Ana fullback Carlos Garcia scored on a 2-yard run and Lee followed with a 14-yard touchdown to put Santa Ana ahead 21-3 at halftime.

Foothill managed to make it 21-18 with 10:44 to play in the game following two short touchdown runs by quarterback Chris Fergus, but the Knights’ defense couldn’t keep Lee in check, preventing a comeback.

Lee scored twice on 55-yard touchdown runs in the final 10 minutes to help Santa Ana raise its league record to 3-0 and overall mark to 7-1.

Foothill fell to 2-1 and 5-3.