Hill Still Waiting After Late Score : Fooball: Fifth time is no charm for Santa Ana coach, who is one victory shy of becoming Orange County’s all-time winner after Westminster rallies.

Just when it appeared that Santa Ana High School Coach Dick Hill was finally going to get victory No. 192 Friday night, Westminster spoiled the party.

Running back Christian Moore caught a seven-yard touchdown pass with 37 seconds remaining to give Westminster a 26-24 victory in the Sunset League opener for both schools at Westminster High.

Westminster (2-2, 1-0) began a go-ahead 66-yard drive with 3:57 remaining after Santa Ana appeared to have finally gotten Hill that elusive victory that would make him Orange County’s all-time winningest coach. It was the Saints’ fifth try at giving Hill win No. 192.

Instead, Hill remains tied with former Loara Coach Herb Hill with 191 victories going into next week’s nonleague game against Capistrano Valley.

Santa Ana’s Jorge Perez 39-yard field goal with 4 minutes 9 seconds remaining pushed the Saints ahead, 24-20, but there was still plenty of time for a comeback. Moore, the Sunset League’s 400-meter champion, got the game-winner, but it didn’t come easy.

Westminster drove for a first and goal at Santa Ana’s 10-yard line, but the Lions managed only three yards on two plays. Moore, who had 88 yards rushing and 88 yards receiving, was the obvious call on third and seven.

When Moore drifted to the Westminster sideline, he was covered by two Santa Ana defenders, but Westminster quarterback Johnny Mahurien lofted a perfect pass to Moore for the winning touchdown.

“We had two men covering him and the guy still scored,” Hill said. “We couldn’t stop them in the second half. We’re capable of beating anybody, but we haven’t been making the big plays.”

Santa Ana (0-4, 0-1) lost its fourth consecutive game, but no one could fault the play of running back Kevin Pola. Pola gained 197 yards in 32 carries and scored two touchdowns, but his inability to gain a critical first down early in the fourth quarter at Westminster’s 30-yard line was the turning point in the game.

“The momentum shifted when we stopped him on that play,” said Westminster Coach Stan Clark. “We got that big (53-yard touchdown) run from Christian to open the second half and that sparked us.

“We knew we had to try to throw the ball more to Christian in the second half. They were keying on his running in the first half and did a great job of containing him.”