PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS / SOUTHERN CONFERENCE : Santa Ana Has Lee Way to Advance Past Irvine

Senior Robert Lee scored two touchdowns Friday night to lead Santa Ana High School to a 33-14 victory over Irvine in the first round of the Southern Conference playoffs in Santa Ana Stadium.

Lee rushed for 134 yards in 25 carries and quarterback George Tuioti completed 10 of 16 passes for 222 yards as the Century League champions improved to 10-1.

Irvine, the at-large entry from the South Coast League, was led by Mike Belle, who rushed for 72 yards in 13 carries.

Santa Ana took the early lead when Tuioti connected with Bobby Joyce on a five-yard touchdown pass with 11:58 left in the second quarter.

Irvine, which finished 5-6, countered with an 11-play, 67-yard drive culminating in a three-yard touchdown run by Pat White with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter, and tied the score, 7-7.

The Saints regained the lead, 13-7, on a 57-yard pass play from Tuioti to Royal Wilbon with 4:38 left in the second quarter.

Santa Ana extended its lead to 20-7 on Lee’s one-yard run with 28 seconds remaining in the half.

Irvine closed to 20-14 on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Jones to George Koutures with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. But the Saints countered with two scores in the fourth quarter, a three-yard run by Lee, and a one-yard run by Tuioti.

Santa Ana will play Santa Monica in the second round of the playoffs.