GARDEN GROVE – After a heartbreaking loss in overtime last week and with the start of league play a week away, Santiago was in need of a victory in its nonleague game against Anaheim on Thursday.
The Cavaliers rebounded nicely, taking a two-touchdown lead at the half point and coming away with a 21-7 victory.
Santiago (3-2) held the Colonists (2-3) scoreless until the final seconds.
The victory took away the sting of Santiago’s 17-14 overtime loss to Magnolia last week.
“Obviously, the result is important, but after a tough loss like last week it was more about getting back to preparing the way that we prepare,” Santiago coach Brandon Croft said. “I think we got away from that a little bit and they showed tonight they were really prepared for what was coming.”
Croft was also pleased with his team’s long passing game, which hadn’t been much of a factor through the first four games but accounted for the Cavaliers’ first two touchdowns.
The pass-catch tandem of quarterback Bernardo Monroy and wide receiver Ulises Mendez accounted for Santiago’s two touchdowns in the first half.
The Cavaliers ran eight consecutive running plays on their first drive before Monroy threw a deep pass to Mendez, who hauled the ball in on the run and sprinted to the end zone for a 55-yard touchdown.
On first-and-10 from the Santiago 33, Monroy threw a short pass over the middle to Mendez.The Anaheim defender gambled by going for the interception but was unsuccessful, which left a clear opening to the end zone for Mendez, who ran the rest of the way for a 67-yard touchdown.
Monroy, a junior, wound up going 7 of 11 passing for 179 yards and two touchdowns and Mendez finished with three receptions for 149 yards.
“First thing is I’ve got to thank my linemen,” Monroy said. “The team did a phenomenal job of just blocking and giving me time to throw.”
Anaheim couldn’t get anything going offensively through much of the game, partly because of drive-killing penalties but also due to Santiago’s defense.
Alfredo Mojica, Erik Morales, Oscar Ramirez each a recorded a sack for Santiago.
Guillermo Mezza got Anaheim on the board with a 10-yard touchdown run with 32.6 seconds left in the game.
The Cavaliers open their Garden Grove League schedule Thursday, Sept. 27 against Rancho Alamitos at Bolsa Grande High School.
Anaheim plays Savanna in its Orange League opener on Thursday, Sept. 27.