ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL / PREP EXTRA : Two Key Injuries Take Luster Off Santiago Victory

Octavio Villa rushed eight times for 91 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead Santiago to a 53-0 Garden Grove League victory over Bolsa Grande Friday night.

The victory was costly for the Cavaliers (4-2, 2-0). Leading rusher Carlos Carbajal and starting lineman Mario Carbajal went down with knee injuries in the first half. Carlos Carbajal, who has rushed for more than 600 yards this season, finished with 44 yards in five carries.

“It’s not cartilage or ligaments,” said Santiago Coach Ben Haley about Carlos Carbajal. “He hurt his knee two days ago in practice when he was tackled on the running track and the same thing happened tonight.”

Haley said he thinks Carlos Carbajal might be back next week, but said Mario Carbajal “might be out for the season.”

Despite the blowout, Haley wasn’t pleased with the way his team played. Three Cavalier touchdowns were called back on penalties and Santiago was penalized 13 times for 93 yards.

Santiago led, 20-0, at halftime on five-yard runs by Victor Martinez and Aris Ulloa, and two Jorge Ruiz field goals. The Cavaliers broke the game open with a 26-point third quarter.

The closest Bolsa Grande came to scoring was late in the game, but the Matadors (0-6, 0-3) were stopped on fourth down at the Santiago one-yard line.