Pulsifer, Palacios Power Saddleback’s 35-0 Victory

Aaron Pulsifer and Omar Palacios combined for 224 yards and three touchdowns to pace Saddleback to a 35-0 victory over Santa Ana in a nonleague game Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium.

The Roadrunners stuck to a strong running attack most of the game, wearing out the young Santa Ana team that featured 24 sophomores on its 39-player roster.

Saddleback scored the first three times it had the ball to give Coach Jerry Witte a successful start to his 20th year with the Roadrunners.

Pulsifer scored from nine yards out to cap an 88-yard touchdown drive on Saddleback’s first possession. The extra point attempt failed when the center snap went long.

Gilbert Guzman caught his first of two touchdown passes, both 10 yards from Daniel Ruvolo, with four minutes 39 seconds left in the first quarter. Palacios caught a two-point conversion pass to put Saddleback ahead, 14-0.

Palacios’ 23-yard touchdown run gave Saddleback a 21-0 lead with 6:55 left in the first half.

Santa Ana had most of its success moving the ball with a passing attack. Carlos Moreno caught 10 passes for 152 yards. Quarterback Mark Fausto connected on 14 of 32 passes for 193 yards and carried the ball 18 times for 15 yards for the Saints.

Saddleback scored twice in the third quarter on Guzman’s second touchdown reception and a 17-yard run by Palacios.