Saints’ Futility Continues Against Ocean View

The streak continues.

Santa Ana lost for the 27th consecutive time when Ocean View defeated the Saints, 22-16, in Golden West League play Thursday night at Santa Ana Stadium.

The last time the Saints won was 1995, when they defeated Long Beach Millikan, 32-20, in the second week of that season.

Mark Miller, Santa Ana’s coach, said, “Put the blame on my shoulders. It was my fault for not having the team prepared.”

Ron Vander Sluis, Ocean View’s coach, said, “The last time we won, we beat Santa Ana, 35-0, last season. We’d lost 10 straight.”

Vander Sluis can thank Deshai Houston. The sophomore defensive back intercepted Lee Lopez’s pass and returned it 66 yards for a score to give the Seahawks (1-8, 1-3) a 22-8 lead with 5:06 left in the game.

Lopez, the Saints’ sophomore quarterback, connected with Ron Ramirez on a 55-yard touchdown pass with 52 seconds remaining in the game. Reynaldo Flores ran for the conversion and Ocean View’s lead was only six points.

Ocean View then ran out the clock.

Santa Ana (0-9, 0-4) had taken an 8-0 lead with 40 seconds left in the first half when Velo Lualemaga passed nine yards to Mario Alvarado.

Ocean View scored with no time remaining in the half when Matt Trice caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Scott McMahan. Trice ran for the conversion to tie the score, 8-8.

Armendariz had six catches for 107 yards. Trice led Ocean View in rushing with 65 yards in 14 carries.

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Sweet Victory

How some of Orange County’s other recent losing streaks came to an end:

Ocean View: 36 games

The Seahawks defeated Santa Ana, 20-12, during the eighth week of the 1994 season.

Orange: 25 games

After being shut out nine times the previous season, the Panthers edged Canyon, 15-13, during the seventh week of the 1982 season.

Savanna: 20 games

A 23-0 victory over Santiago during the second week of the 1990 season sent the Rebels on to a 6-3-2 season.