Santa Ana Redeems Itself by Upsetting Loyola, 17-14

The memory of two embarrassing shutouts in consecutive seasons was enough to motivate Santa Ana High School to a 17-14 upset of Loyola Friday night before 1,500 fans in Santa Ana.

First, there was the lingering memory of a 27-0 loss to Loyola last season, a game in which Santa Ana failed to generate any semblance of an offense against the best defensive squad in the Southern Section.

Then, there was a humbling 30-0 loss to the county’s top-ranked team, Mission Viejo, last week in which the Saints wilted against a superior team.

Santa Ana’s self-esteem was at stake.

Pride has a way of motivating a team and Santa Ana (4-1) rolled up 17 points in the second quarter and held on to win. Loyola (4-1) was playing its first opponent with a winning record and suffered its first loss.

“We felt embarrassed last week,” said Jesse Rosas, Santa Ana quarterback. “We didn’t even score. Our goal was to redeem ourselves tonight. We came out fired up, but then we let up in the second half.”

Santa Ana has developed a habit of opening fast and finishing poorly. The Saints scored 21 points in the first half in their season opener against Esperanza, and then held on for a 21-14 victory. The pattern continued against Loyola.

Two interceptions were instrumental as Santa Ana scored both touchdowns within a 46-second span in the second quarter. But then the Saints took the rest of the night off.

“I wish we would have played a better second half,” said Dick Hill, Santa Ana coach. “We’re going to have to learn to play 48 minutes of football.”

There was certainly nothing wrong with Santa Ana’s 46-second effort in the second quarter, however. Tackle Bobby Vidana intercepted a pass at Loyola’s 40-yard line, setting up Rosas’ one-yard keeper for a 10-0 lead.

Defensive back Nestor Gonzalez followed shortly afterward with a 20-yard interception run for a touchdown and a 17-0 lead. Santa Ana intercepted Loyola quarterback Brian Dennis three times.

“We made too many mistakes to win against a very good football team like Santa Ana,” said Loyola Coach Steve Grady. “I thought we dominated the second half, but the poor pitchout at their 10-yard line really cost us.”

Loyola had cut Santa Ana’s lead to 17-7 midway through the third quarter when fullback Scott McDonald scored on a 23-yard run. And it was threatening again late in the quarter at the Saints’ 10-yard line.

But Santa Ana tackle Oscar Wilson pressured Dennis into an errant pitch that was recovered by teammate Oswaldo Guerra.

Loyola managed to score with 2:26 remaining to cut the lead to 17-14, but a final threat ended when Gonzalez came up with his second interception of the night.

Finally, Wilson had an impressive game for Santa Ana, sacking Dennis three times, deflecting a pass that was intercepted by Vidana and forcing the errant pitchout.