Wagner Finds Open Man, Santa Ana Beats Fullerton

Grant Wagner, with the help of a vocal sideline, had no trouble finding an open receiver for the go-ahead touchdown Saturday as host Santa Ana rallied to beat Fullerton, 31-17, in a Mission Conference Central Division opener.

Wagner was eight of 17 for 173 yards with two touchdowns, and he also rushed for a score.

His biggest touchdown was the one that broke a 17-17 tie early in the fourth quarter. His 22-yard pass to Cesar Ramirez gave Santa Ana a 23-17 lead with 14:11 to play.

“He was just wide open,” Wagner said. “I could hear everyone on the sidelines yelling ‘Look at Cesar!’ . . . We started off slow today but you sure have to give it up for the defense.”

Wagner and his teammates were much better in the second half after Fullerton led, 17-10, at the break.

Santa Ana (4-2, 1-0) got even when Wagner pushed in from one yard out late in the third quarter. The touchdown was set up when Jeremiah Armendariz caught a pass at about the line of scrimmage, made a slick move around two defenders and raced 88 yards before being caught at the one.

On the surface, it wasn’t the best of days for the Santa Ana defense, which gave up 448 yards.

But the Dons did recover two fumbles, and cornerback Alex Romero had a pair of interceptions despite playing on a tender ankle he hurt in practice Thursday.

Romero sat out the first two series, which included a 60-yard touchdown run by Fullerton quarterback Greg Garand. But after the adrenaline started to flow, he decided to give it a try. His second interception came at the Santa Ana 20 in the fourth quarter on a pass tipped by linebacker Naisa Fonua.

Santa Ana scored the game’s final touchdown when Cameron King, who had 142 yards in 28 carries, raced into the end zone from 38 yards with 8:03 to play.

“We all had a great game,” Romero said. “We’re really starting to come together.”

Prescott Hill had 137 yards rushing and Andrew Rea had 107 for Fullerton (1-5, 0-1).