PREP EXTRA: SATURDAY FOOTBALL PULLOUT : GOLDEN WEST LEAGUE : Hernandez’s Three Scores Lead Saddleback Victory

Hector Hernandez scored three touchdowns as Saddleback beat Santa Ana, 35-7, Friday night at Santa Ana Stadium.

The victory moved the Roadrunners (3-6, 2-2) into third place in the Golden West League and they play Tustin next week for a playoff berth.

The Saints (2-7, 1-3) scored first when Byron Cabrera rushed 10 yards for a 7-0 lead. Saddleback tied the score with 23 seconds left in the first quarter when Hernandez caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Danny Rodriguez.

The Roadrunners took a 14-7 halftime lead when Omar Palacios scored on a 23-yard touchdown run with 2:36 left in the half.

Saddleback dominated the second half, scoring three third-quarter touchdowns and allowing the Saints only 57 total yards in the half.

The first touchdown was an 11-yard run by Palacios with 7:41 left in the quarter that gave the Roadrunners a 21-7 lead.

Then Hernandez scored twice in 14 seconds. The first came when Rodriguez found him in the end zone with a 23-yard pass. Two plays later, Hernandez intercepted a Brian Schwalm pass and returned the ball 35 yards for a touchdown with 5:11 left in the quarter.

Palacios finished with 113 yards rushing. Teammate Danny Verino rushed for 106 yards.