Santa Ana Earns Share of First With Victory

SANTA ANA — Santa Ana High running back Kevin Pola helped move his team into a first-place tie Thursday night by leading the Saints to a 21-6 Sunset League victory over Ocean View at Santa Ana Stadium.

Pola smashed his way to 185 yards rushing and two touchdowns in 23 carries to lead the Saints (4-5, 4-1 in league) to their fourth consecutive victory and a tie with Huntington Beach for the league lead. Ocean View is 1-8, 0-5.

Santa Ana took a 14-0 lead on Armando Gonzalez’s four-yard touchdown run and a 58-yard scoring run by Pola. Then the Saints turned sloppy with turnovers and penalties to allow Ocean View to close the gap to 14-6 in the second quarter on Mike Coerper’s 33-yard touchdown run following recovery of a Saint muffed punt.

A 73-yard drive in the third quarter gave Santa Ana a 21-6 lead on Pola’s one-yard plunge. Quarterback Joey Martinez’s 39-yard pass to Terry Anuu on the Seahawk one-yard line set up the score.

Santa Ana finished with 352 yards total offense, including 233 yards rushing, but was plagued by three turnovers and 11 penalties for 111 yards. Coerper led the Seahawks with 96 yards rushing in 15 carries.