El Toro Defense Closes Ranks in Title Game, Stops Santa Ana, 26-10

Even with El Toro High School quarterback Bret Johnson having a subpar night, by his standards, the Chargers had more than enough weapons to defeat Santa Ana, 26-10, Saturday night in the Southern Conference championship game played before 8,593 fans at Orange Coast College’s LeBard Stadium.

Johnson, the junior who was Orange County’s top-rated quarterback this season, threw for 2 touchdowns but completed only 10 of 24 passes (41%) for 134 yards, well below his 62% completion rate.

But Aly Diaz and the El Toro defense were there, too. Diaz, a senior transfer from Twentynine Palms, rushed for 126 yards in 20 carries and scored once, and the Charger defense limited Santa Ana to 138 total yards, including 19 in the second half.

El Toro, which won the Central Conference championship in 1982, finished with a 14-0 record, while the Saints ended up 12-2.

The game was close heading into the fourth quarter, with El Toro maintaining a 16-10 lead. But the Chargers broke it open in the fourth quarter on Shane Brisbin’s 35-yard field goal and Johnson’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Matt Hoelker.

The Chargers sacked Santa Ana quarterback Richard Fanti three times in the fourth period (two by lineman Adam Demalignon) and didn’t allow a first down. El Toro held Fanti to 14 yards passing, 15 rushing.

Tailback Robert Lee, who had rushed for 1,850 yards, finished with 80 yards, but his longest carry of the game was 8 yards.

Santa Ana didn’t score in the second half but had an excellent opportunity to take the lead before halftime when Efrain Islas intercepted a Johnson pass and returned it 28 yards to the Charger 30-yard line with 1:03 remaining in the first half.

But three plays failed to produce a first down, and David Grisafe blocked Julian Rea’s 39-yard field goal attempt with 38 seconds to go.

The Saints got off to a good start when Lee returned the opening kickoff 31 yards, and Santa Ana drove 59 yards in 9 plays. Islas took a reverse 10 yards around the right side for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. The big plays on the drive were his 14-yard run and Fanti’s 20-yarder.

El Toro came right back and drove from its 33 to the Santa Ana 19, but Johnson’s fourth-down pass to Scott Miller was incomplete.

The Charger defense held, forcing a punt, but George Tuioti couldn’t handle a low snap, picked up the loose ball and was tackled at the eight by Scott Ross.

Three plays later, Diaz scored on a one-yard run, and Miller, the holder in kick formation, took the snap and ran around the right side on the fake for a two-point conversion and an 8-7 lead with 11:57 left in the second quarter.

Santa Ana went ahead, 10-8, on Rea’s 18-yard field goal, but El Toro moved back on top, 16-10, on Johnson’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Chris McCarthy with 3:48 left in the second quarter.