Ripley’s Touchdown Leads Santiago

Alex Ripley’s touchdown and two-point conversion run gave Santiago High School an 8-7 victory over Kennedy Thursday in a Garden Grove League game at Garden Grove High.

Ripley, who gained 100 of 274 rushing yards for Santiago (2-6, 2-3 in league), ran through the center from the Kennedy three-yard line with 6 minutes 9 seconds remaining in the third quarter to complete a 10-play drive that started at Santiago’s 47.

Early in the fourth quarter, Kennedy’s Vince Church returned a punt to the Santiago 32. He moved the ball to the one on a pass from John Guthrie, but fumbled the ball in the end zone on the next down. Santiago’s Kevin Gillian (154 yards, 16 carries) recovered the loose ball that kept Kennedy (2-6, 0-5) from winning.

Church, who gained 128 of Kennedy’s net 66 rushing yards, scored the game’s first touchdown on an 80-yard run with 4:17 left in the first quarter.