PREP FOOTBALL : Century League Football : Santa Ana Celebrates Birthday With Big Victory

Santa Ana High School kicked off its 100th anniversary birthday celebration Friday night with a 41-26 football victory over Canyon in front of 5,200 at Santa Ana Stadium.

The victory not only pleased the large crowd, which included Santa Ana graduates from as far back as 1911, but enabled the Saints (6-3, 4-0) to clinch at least a tie for the Century League title. Santa Ana can win it outright by defeating Santa Ana Valley next week.

Santa Ana’s offense scored the first six times it had the ball to take a 41-0 lead. The Saints had 234 yards rushing and 118 passing.

Senior tailback Estrus Crayton scored touchdowns of 2 and 10 yards, junior tailback Garner Hicks scored on a 21-yard run, and junior tailback Gus Valencia had a 6-yard touchdown run. Freshman defensive back Albert Perez scored on a 25-yard interception return, and freshman Gustavo Plasencia had 2 field goals and 5 extra points.

Senior halfback Dan Puskas caught 2 touchdown passes in the second half, as Canyon (0-9, 0-4) scored 26 consecutive second-half points.