ORANGE COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL : Century League : Santa Ana Valley Comes Back to Tie Canyon, 7-7

Running back Jesse Lynch’s late third-quarter touchdown run allowed Santa Ana Valley to tie Canyon, 7-7, Thursday night in front of 400 in a Century League football game in Santa Ana Stadium.

On its first drive of the game, Canyon (2-5-1, 0-2-1) went for a touchdown on fourth and goal at the Santa Ana Valley three, but quarterback Todd Burns was sacked for a five-yard loss by defensive end Cornelius Lilly.

Burns, a junior making his first start of the season, was 6 of 13 for 51 yards. Santa Ana Valley quarterback Steve Calhoun was 12 of 21 for 117 yards but was intercepted twice.

Canyon scored its only touchdown with 40 seconds left in the half on Dale LaRue’s six-yard run around right end. Steve Szary kicked the extra point to give Canyon a 7-0 lead.

Santa Ana Valley (2-5-1, 1-1-1) turned the ball over six times, including four fumbles, and Canyon had two turnovers.

“Santa Ana Valley has an up-and-coming program,” Canyon Coach Rod Hust said. “We’re just not able to able to put two good halves of football together, and that hurts us.”

Lynch’s 1-yard touchdown run capped an 8-play, 29-yard drive. Manop Phinouwong kicked the extra point to tie the score, 7-7.

Santa Ana Valley outgained Canyon, 223 yards to 137, holding Canyon to 51 yards rushing.

In was the first time since 1982 that Canyon, which leads the series 7-2-1, hasn’t won.