ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: PREP EXTRA : Westminster Wins Game, Playoff Berth

Westminster wrapped up third place in the Golden West League and a playoff berth with a 29-0 victory over visiting Santa Ana Thursday.

The Lions scored 22 third-quarter points to pull away from a 7-0 halftime lead in the game filled with penalties.

Westminster was penalized 11 times for 120 yards; Santa Ana 11 times for 130 yards.

“It wasn’t very pretty, but we’ll take it,” Westminster Coach Stan Clark said. “We knew coming in that we needed to win this to make it into the playoffs, and we’re just happy to get the win.”

Westminster (6-4, 3-2) scored three quick touchdowns in the third quarter.

The first scoring drive, a four-play, 68-yard march, culminated in a 31-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Manual Tapia to David Kurien. The next drive covered 54 yards in only three plays, with Sparky Kale scoring on a 31-yard run.

Ricky Quintana recovered a fumble at the Santa Ana 32 moments later to set up a 32-yard touchdown run by Kale to cap the scoring.

Kale finished with 121 yards in nine carries, and Tapia, who threw a 15-yard yard touchdown pass to Kurien in the second quarter, was seven for eight and finished with 124 yards.

Ladon Robinson had 121 yards in 23 carries to lead Santa Ana (1-9, 0-5), which lost its eighth consecutive game.