ANAHEIM – After 41 minutes of scoreless football Anaheim coach Lanny Booher issued a challenge to his team’s players in the decisive fourth quarter.
“Who has the guts to finish this thing?” Booher said.
Johnny Gonzalez accepted the challenge and scored on a 14-yard touchdown run midwaythrough the fourth quarter to give Anaheim a 7-0 victory over Santa Ana Valley on Thursday night at Glover Stadium.
Johnny Gonzalez talks about Anaheim’s 7-0 win over Santa Ana Valley. Gonzalez 4th qtr TD was the lone score of the game. @ocvarsity @AnaheimSports1 @AHSColonists pic.twitter.com/qfU3TctYKd
— David Delgado (@DavidDelgado_OC) October 5, 2018
This Orange League contest was an important one as both the Colonists (3-4, 1-1) and Falcons (3-4, 0-2) were searching for the first league win.
The passing game for both teams struggled to maintain any rhythm as inaccurate passes anddropped balls plagued the game.
Anaheim quarterback Bryan Garza was 3 for 13 and Valley quarterback Miguel Quiroz went 9 for 32 with 110 yards and two interceptions.
“Both teams’ offensive execution could have been better, but both defenses played outstanding,” Booher said.
The anchor of the Anaheim defense was Keane Maae, who recorded three sacks. The seniorlinebacker credited the coaching staff with keeping his teammates mentally tough.
“We’re trained to keep pushing through and pushing through. It’s the way it is in football,” Maae said. “Life is pretty hard too, but you gotta keep pushing.”
At times it appeared the game was destined to be tied at the end of regulation.
Anaheim had other plans.
The Colonists forced three fourth-quarter turnovers, including an interception by Jonathan Salazar at the Valley 17. Three plays later Gonzalez barreled through the line and scored the game-winning points.
Santa Ana Valley’s last-gasp effort to tie the score with under two minutes was denied as Maae jarred the ball loose from Quiroz and the ball was secured by Victor Grado.
The first half provided a couple of chances for the Falcons to strike first with two drives starting deep in Anaheim territory but they failed to put any points on the board.
Erick Pineda picked off Garza and returned it to the 14. The Colonists’ defense held to force a 29-yard attempt by Pineda that missed.
After Santa Ana Valley forced another punt they took over at the Anaheim 38. The Falconsweren’t able to take advantage of the favorable field position and their drive stalled at the 22yard line and they turned it over on downs.