Santiago Beats Buena Park, Ends Long Losing Streak

Santiago stopped a 15-game losing streak that spanned three seasons by beating Buena Park, 14-3, in a nonleague game Thursday night at Buena Park High School.

Santiago last won on the field in the fifth week of the 1992 season, a 20-6 victory over Bolsa Grande. Santiago was awarded a victory over Garden Grove because Garden Grove used an ineligible player in its 28-0 victory in the seventh week.

“It feels great,” said first-year Santiago Coach Ben Haley. “We were ready for this. I couldn’t ask for anything more from them.”

The Cavaliers (1-2) took a 6-0 halftime lead on Christian Cortez’s two-yard run with 6 minutes 56 seconds left in the second quarter.

After Santiago’s Jose Palacios fumbled the second-half kickoff and Jonathan Smiech recovered for Buena Park (0-3) at the Santiago 36, the Coyotes drove to the Cavalier nine. But Matt Eckert sacked Osvaldo Olmos on third and six, and Buena Park settled for Jude Reyes’ 30-yard field goal.

On Santiago’s next play from scrimmage, Palacios fumbled again, and Corey Lyday recovered for Buena Park. But Santiago’s defense held again, and Reyes missed a 35-yard field-goal attempt.

Santiago clinched the victory on Anthony Callari’s eight-yard run with 4:53 left.