PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Santa Ana Wins Its First of Season

An interception by Carlos Rodriguez halted a potential game-winning drive by winless Tustin as host Santa Ana earned its first victory of the season in a 9-3 Golden West League game Saturday night at Santa Ana Stadium.

“This is a big victory for us because it puts us back in the hunt for the playoffs,” Santa Ana Coach Bob Hinman said.

Rodriguez picked off a pass by Tustin quarterback Kevin Timone at the Santa Ana 29 with 2 minutes 27 seconds remaining to secure the victory for the Saints (1-6, 1-1). Tustin (0-7, 0-2) has lost 13 consecutive games.

Carlos Esparza’s one-yard touchdown run with 11:15 left in the second quarter was enough for Santa Ana, which also scored a safety late in the fourth quarter.

Tustin, which blew scoring opportunities with four turnovers, took the early lead on a 26-yard field goal by Adam Thomasson on its opening drive.

The Tillers compiled 172 yards in offense to 212 for Santa Ana, which won despite being assessed 105 yards in penalties.

In an Arrowhead League game:

Anza Hamilton 25, Southern California Christian 0--Rocky Meyers ran for 164 yards and four touchdowns to lead host Hamilton.

Hamilton (5-1, 2-0) recorded its fifth shutout of the season, holding the Flames to 28 yards total offense, including three yards on the ground.

The Flames (1-6, 0-2) held the Bobcats in check the first quarter, holding Meyers to 24 yards rushing.

But Meyers put the Bobcats on the scoreboard with 5:43 left in the second quarter, scoring on a two-yard run for a 6-0 lead. The touchdown capped a 14-play, 69-yard drive.

Meyers’ second touchdown came on a four-yard run with 34 seconds left in the half. The score, which gave Hamilton a 12-0 halftime lead, was set up by a 51-yard completion from quarterback Erik Contreras to Donny Bonga.

The Bobcats wasted no time scoring in the third quarter. Meyers scored on a 15-yard run on Hamilton’s opening drive with 7:44 left in the quarter.

Hamilton stifled the Flames’ offense, giving up one first down the last two quarters.

Meyers capped the scoring late in the fourth quarter, with a one-yard touchdown run with 3:13 left to play.

Contreras completed five of nine passes for 104 yards and running back Nick Rueda added 76 yards in eight carries for the Bobcats.

Laramy Lumley ran for 31 yards in 11 carries to lead the Flames’ offense.

In eight-man games:

In the Delphic League:

Liberty Christian 47, Huntington Beach Claremont 0--David Trujillo rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown in 12 carries, and Paul Malcolm carried only five times, but scored three touchdowns for host Liberty Christian (5-1-1, 1-0-1). Liberty Christian led, 27-0, at halftime.