Orange League : Anaheim Defeats Brea, 18-7 : Colonists Save Best for Fourth Quarter to Clinch Playoff Spot

Anaheim High School scored 18 points in the fourth quarter to defeat Brea-Olinda, 18-7, in an Orange League football game in Glover Stadium in front of 400 Thursday night.

The victory allows Anaheim (7-2, 3-1) to remain tied with Valencia atop the league standings and clinches a Central Conference playoff berth for the Colonists, who have reached the playoffs 7 of the last 11 years.

“I’m happy to make the playoffs because it takes some pressure off us,” said Coach Ted Mullen, in his first year at Anaheim. “Now we can go all out against Western for the league title.”

Anaheim plays Western (6-2, 2-1) at Glover next Friday for at least a share of the league title. Western plays host to Magnolia tonight.

In the span of seven minutes in the fourth quarter Thursday night, the teams combined for 25 points.

Senior running back Gerald Holloway scored two of Anaheim’s three touchdowns. The first came on an 18-yard run to give Anaheim a 6-0 lead with 10:50 left. Holloway’s second score came on a play-action pass from quarterback Robert Aldaz to put Anaheim ahead, 12-7, with 7:05 remaining.

Anaheim got its final score with just less than five minutes left when Craig Smith ran around right end for 25 yards and a touchdown.

Brea-Olinda (4-5, 2-2) scored on a fumbled kickoff return. Marc Shaw returned an Anaheim kickoff 30 yards to the Anaheim 40, but the ball popped out of his hands and into those of Eddie Stewart, who carried it the final 40 yards.

David Stark’s extra-point kick gave Brea a 7-6 lead with 10:02 left.

Aldaz missed two field goal attempts for Anaheim. The first was from 47 yards out with five minutes left in the first half. He later missed a 27-yarder with 8:29 left in the third quarter.

Anaheim’s Joaquin Garcia, who is the county’s fourth-leading rusher, was held to 85 yards in 18 carries. He has rushed for 1,074 yards this season.