Fullerton Makes It Easy for Streaking Santa Ana

Fullerton seemed to do its level best to give away the game with visiting Santa Ana Saturday, and the streaking Dons were happy to take it.

Santa Ana got seven turnovers and Tramel Robinson scored four touchdowns as the Dons won, 38-16, to clinch at least a share of first place in the Mission Conference Central Division.

It was the sixth consecutive victory for Santa Ana (6-3, 5-0), which will finish the regular season Saturday by hosting Riverside.

“It’s just an amazing group of kids,” Santa Ana Coach Dave Ogas said. “It’s one of the hardest practicing teams I’ve ever been around. Our defensive staff has been doing it with mirrors with all the injuries and adjustments.”

The defense dominated early, as Santa Ana took a 21-3 lead at the half. Interceptions played a part in all three touchdowns.

Troy Mills picked off a pass in the flat and raced 22 yards for a touchdown capped by a dramatic leap into the end zone with the ball extended. That put Santa Ana up, 7-0.

Tom Dobson won a battle for a ball that was tipped at the line by Chad Adams and returned it eight yards to the Fullerton two. Robinson went in from a yard to make it, 13-3, in the first minute of the second quarter.

Michael Steenbergen got the first of his three interceptions to set up Santa Ana’s third touchdown of the half. Robinson did the honors, scoring from 14 yards to put the Dons up, 21-3, with 11 minutes 53 seconds left in the second quarter.

Robinson finished with 174 yards in 28 carries and added two one-yard touchdown runs in the second half. His longest run was for 26 yards and he hauled three Fullerton players the final 10 yards before finally falling at the Fullerton one. He scored on the next play to give Santa Ana a 35-16 lead with 6:04 left.

“He drags people,” offensive lineman Dan DeClark said. “He doesn’t want to go down.”

Robinson and DeClark were also quick to credit the Santa Ana defense that held Fullerton to 19 yards in 17 carries.

Fullerton did rally for two second-half touchdown passes by reserve quarterback Kevin Rodriguez to get as close as 28-16.

In other Mission Conference Central Division games:

Saddleback 17, Riverside 14--Running back Brendan McGraw rushed for 118 yards in 27 carries and one touchdown for the Gauchos (6-3, 4-1). Gauchos’ quarterback Joe Cordova completed only four of 12 passes for 47 yards, but two of those completions were for touchdowns.

Palomar 48, Golden West 0--Quarterback Tony Alvarez completed 33 of 45 passes for 392 yards and four touchdown for host Palomar (4-5, 2-3). Matt Wentz threw for 170 yards on 12 of 25 passing for the Rustlers (2-7, 1-4).

In a Mission Conference game:

El Camino 46, Orange Coast 13--Orange Coast lost its 17th consecutive game, but completed their two longest plays from scrimmage this season.

After El Camino took a 7-0 lead, David Meleney caught a 55-yard touchdown pass from Chad Collins to tie the score. Andre Stewart had a 70-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the Pirates (0-9).