Joyner, Esperanza Find Room to Run in Rout

Esperanza’s Tom Joyner had one of those nights, one where nothing but green grass and the cool crisp air separated him from the end zone just about every time he carried the football.

Santa Ana’s defense didn’t seem to get in his way very often.

Joyner, a junior fullback, rushed for 72 yards and scored three first-half touchdowns as the third-ranked Aztecs defeated unranked Santa Ana, 44-0, in the opener for both teams Thursday at Valencia High.

Joyner, who carried only six times, scored on runs of 38 and 17 yards and caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from John Aed in the first half as the Aztecs raced to a 37-0 halftime lead.

The Aztecs outgained the Saints, 270 yards to 25, in the first half while scoring on five of their first six possessions. Santa Ana managed only 22 yards of offense and three first downs and was terrorized by Esperanza tackle Travis Kirschke (nine tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery).

Aed was solid in his first start for Esperanza, completing four of six passes for 65 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Tight end Ken Hall caught three passes for 71 yards and a touchdown.

But the night belonged to the Aztecs’ running game. Esperanza had 205 yards rushing by halftime and finished with 289. Sophomore tailback Dahrin Footman rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown, fullback Bill Ross gained 60 yards, and wingback Kevin Shoup managed 62 yards and a touchdown.

“We tried to spread it around,” Esperanza Coach Gary Meek said. “We have three or four guys who can do the job. We just need to get some consistency.”

Esperanza jumped to a 16-0 first-quarter lead by capitalizing on two Santa Ana punting mistakes and two touchdowns by Joyner.

Santa Ana’s first error came on its first punt, when the ball was snapped over Ben Quirarte’s head and out of the end zone for a safety.

Quirarte bobbled the second punt snap, giving the Aztecs the ball at the Santa Ana 27.

Aed threw 21 yards to Hall, then completed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Joyner three plays later. Yancy Knox’ extra point made it 9-0.

After a 29-yard kick by new Santa Ana punter Mark Fausto, Joyner broke loose on his 38-yard touchdown run with 27 seconds left in the quarter to push the lead to 16-0.