THE PREPS : Tonight’s Football Games : Santa Ana Has Handled Mission Viejo, but These Diablos Are No. 1

Santa Ana High School faces its second difficult nonleague test when it plays Mission Viejo at 7:30 tonight in Santa Ana Stadium.

The Saints have beaten the Diablos three consecutive seasons by scores of 28-7 last year, 19-0 in 1986 and 32-21 in the Southern Conference championship game in 1985.

So what’s the problem? Should be another blowout, right?

Well, Santa Ana (2-1 and fifth-ranked in the Orange County Sportswriters’ Assn. poll) has suddenly had trouble running the ball.

The Saints’ ground game was ineffective in a 17-10 loss to Mater Dei last week.

Running back Garner Hicks gained 7 yards in 5 carries. Hicks, who is the team’s leading rusher with 222 yards, had been averaging 10.8 yards a carry.

Estrus Crayton, who had been averaging 8.8 yards per carry, gained 4 yards in 4 attempts against the Monarchs. Crayton has rushed for 189 yards this season.

Despite Mission Viejo’s success this season (3-0 and top-ranked in the county), Diablos Coach Mike Rush is fearful of the Saints. He watched the last three Santa Ana-Mission Viejo games on film this week and didn’t like what he saw--again.

“The tough thing about Santa Ana is that they have the potential to break a big play at any time,” Rush said. “We have to confuse their blockers and try to get to the quarterback when he tries to pass.”

Sean Parks and Pete Ashby have anchored a strong Diablo offensive line, which has provided quarterback Troy Kopp with time enough to become the county’s top-rated passer.

Kopp has completed 64.4% of his passes for 438 yards and 5 touchdowns. He has not thrown an interception this season.

In the 28-7 loss to Santa Ana last season, Kopp had a sub-par game, completing 4 of 16 passes for 36 yards and 3 interceptions.

“Offensively, ball control will have a central impact on the game,” Rush said. “Against Fountain Valley (a game won by Mission Viejo, 24-3) we had a 8- to 9-minute drive. That itself is a defensive weapon.”

Pacifica (1-1-1) vs. Santiago (2-1) at Bolsa Grande High School--This is the Garden Grove League opener for both teams and neither enters the game on a high note. Pacifica hasn’t exactly overwhelmed the opposition thus far, having scored 17 points in 3 games. The Mariners lost, 20-3, to Norco last week. Santiago was beaten, 52-8, by Corona del Mar a week ago. Nevertheless, Santiago would appear to have the upper hand in this one. Quarterback Dana Ripley has thrown for 410 yards and 4 touchdowns. But he also had five passes intercepted in the loss to Corona del Mar. Rudy Motley, a Santiago running back, has rushed for 170 yards. Pacifica running back Chris Shockely, a 1,000-yard rusher last year, has gained 207 yards.

Troy (3-0) at Valencia (3-0)--Two of the 11 remaining 3-0 teams in Orange County face off in what could be a preview of things to come in the Division VI playoffs. Troy comes into the game with two consecutive shutouts. Valencia has outscored its opponents, 82-12. Something has to give. Mark Stichter, a Troy running back who has gained 228 yards in 31 carries, has benefited from an offensive line that averages 230 pounds. Running back Keef Leasure is Valencia’s top threat, having rushed for 244 yards.

Tustin (0-3) vs. El Toro (2-1) at Mission Viejo High School--El Toro won its second game of the season last week, but suffered a big loss in the process. Charger tailback Jerome Oakman broke his ankle against Villa Park and is out for the season. He will be replaced by Dan Maestas, who was brought up from the Chargers’ undefeated sophomore team. About the only bright spot for Tustin was that it finally scored a touchdown last week. In three games, the Tillers have been outscored, 30-7.

In other games:

Anaheim vs. Cypress at Western; Long Beach Wilson at Huntington Beach; Sunny Hill vs. Canyon at El Modena.