Cherrington Runs for 327 Yards to Spark Santa Ana Valley, 34-20

Santa Ana Valley coaches were saying before the game if they could get tailback Dwayne Cherrington a little running room, they would have a good shot at beating Dana Hills.

Boy, were they ever right.

Santa Ana Valley gave Cherrington the running room and he took care of the rest, rushing for 327 yards--eighth most in county history--and four touchdowns in 27 carries to lead the visiting Falcons over Dana Hills, 34-20.

“We felt that we could get some good yardage on quick hits with Dwayne and he had the speed to finish them off,” Santa Ana Valley Coach Scott Orloff said. “He just played an outstanding game.”

But early on, it didn’t appear as though he would. Dana Hills jumped to a 14-0 lead after Micah Denison ran eight yards for a first-quarter score, and Randy Hein added a one-yard run early in the second quarter.

At one point, Cherrington had only 13 yards in five carries, but he then broke a 69-yard run.

“At first I was worried that we were behind, 14-0. I was thinking ‘Oh, no. Here we go.’ But after I broke that one, I knew that I was not going to be stopped again,” Cherrington said.

The junior broke away for a 53- yard touchdown three plays later to tie the score, 14-14, at the half.

Cherrington then burst 19 yards to give Santa Ana Valley a 21-14 lead.

Dana Hills answered with a 20-yard touchdown to Mike Whittaker from Scott Covington, but Vaaii Sio ran one yard, and Cherrington finished the scoring with a 65-yard run.