Orange, Rancho claim football titles

By OC Tribune Staff on November 1, 2019 • ( Leave a comment )

ANDREW ANDRADE (2) rushed for 60 yards for Orange as the Panthers defeated Santa Ana 57-13 for the Orange Coast League title Friday night at Chapman University (Orange County Tribune photo by Chris Abdelmalek).

By Christopher Abdelmalek

Isaac Galvan led the Panthers of Orange High School to a 57-13 victory over the Saints of Santa Ana High to capture the Orange Coast League title at Chapman Stadium Friday evening. Galvan finished with a game high 270 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

“Not surprised at all, that kid is a beast,” said head coach Robert Pedroza of Orange on the performance by Galvan.

The star running back for the Panthers started the game off with a bang, going 66 yards on the first play of the game. The offensive rushing attack for the Orange and Black was dominant totaling over 450 yards on the ground. Pedroza said the success of the run game, “Our o-line stepped it up tonight they got after it. They just took it to them.”

Outstanding contributions from the other running backs Andrew Andrade and Isac Adetoye helped Galvan and the Panthers offense control the tempo of the game. Andrade finished with 57 yards and Adetoye with 60 yards. Those touches helped spell Galvan during the game to keep him fresh.

“We just worked hard in practice and it showed tonight,” said Galvan. “We played more physical than them.”

The Saints defense had virtually no answer for the rushing attack from the Panthers. They stood tall but in the end they offensive line for the Orangemen pushed the Saints out of the way and created huge holes for the running backs to go through. “These kids just battled tonight. They played great football tonight,” said Pedroza.

The Orange and Black stifled almost every offensive possession the Saints had tonight. The run game was the only thing working for Red and White and even that came in spurts, accumulating less than 100 yards on the ground. The passing game was not much different as threw for 71 yards through the air, with most of those yards coming on the only two touchdown passes in the game from the Saints.

Quarterback Aldo Leyva for the Saints struggled to find any breathing room to throw the ball, being sacked twice and throwing one interception to Bryan Fausto mid-way through the second half.

With this win tonight the Panthers claim the Orange Coast League regular season title and finish with an impressive (9-1, 5-0) record overall. Santa Ana finished 6-4 and 4-1. “Winning this league is a small step to our main goal which is CIF,” said Galvan after the game. As the Panthers look forward to the playoffs, seeding will be determined next week. As for now the team is enjoying this victory and a league title.

Rancho gets a piece of GGL title

Rancho Alamitos claimed a share of the 2019 Garden Grove League football championship with a 38-14 win over La Quinta Friday night at Bolsa Stadium.

The Vaqueros finished the regular season 6-3 overall and 4-1 in GGL action. Loara and Santiago also finished 4-1 in league, creating a three-way tie for first. The Aztecs finished 3-7 and 2-3.

Here are results from Friday night local high school football games and those of interest to local fans. Scores will be posted as they become available.