Rush Hour a Big Hit for Santiago

Santiago Coach Ben Haley said before the season that his team could be “something special.” After the Cavaliers’ 19-7 victory over Magnolia Thursday night at Garden Grove High, Haley seemed more sure of it.

“In previous years, we were doing it with smoke and mirrors,” he said. “But I think we really have something this year.”

Thursday against previously undefeated Magnolia, Santiago had a hard-hitting, swarming defense and two 100-yard rushers.

“We were quicker and we showed we can hit,” Haley said.

The Cavalier defense hit Magnolia quarterback Jacob Davis hard and often, sacking him five times and hammering him nearly every time he dropped back to pass.

“We decided after the first drive that we couldn’t play them straight up, so we started mixing up our blitzes,” Haley said.

On most occasions, Santiago had a linebacker flying into the backfield untouched from Davis’ blindside. Davis finished three of 10 for 52 yards.

Santiago wasn’t dazzling on offense, but it was plenty effective. Halfback James Thomas, who entered the night as the county’s third-leading rusher, rambled for 178 yards and three touchdowns in 28 carries. Fullback Daniel Melendez bulled his way for 130 yards in 16 carries.

“We showed tonight that it was hard to just key on me,” Thomas said. “They did and you saw what happened.”

Thomas scored the game’s first touchdown on a one-yard run with three minutes left in the first quarter. He helped set up the score by gaining 26 yards on a flat pass. Magnolia countered by driving 85 yards in nine plays. The Sentinels scored on running back Will Speer’s four-yard run.

Two plays later, Thomas darted through a big hole on the right side and scampered down the right sideline for a 57-yard touchdown. Santiago’s ball-control offense dominated the rest of the way, but the Cavaliers kept Magnolia in the game with three fumbles, one of them came at the Magnolia five-yard line with three minutes left in the first half.

Most years, three turnovers would have devastated the Cavaliers. But Thomas said this seems to be a different year.

“At Santiago, we don’t get much recognition, but we beat a darn good team tonight and showed everybody what’s up,” said Thomas, who has 598 yards and 10 touchdowns in three games. “We showed we can contend for the Garden Grove League title.”