Perseverance Pays Off for Santa Ana Valley

SANTA ANA —  Perhaps now Santa Ana Valley players believe what Coach Eddie Steward has been preaching all season: Play a complete game, and chances for victory are good.

The Falcons beat Canyon, 25-7, Thursday night at Santa Ana Stadium.

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Santa Ana Valley (2-6, 1-2) put together a nine-play, 70-yard drive in the second quarter. A five-yard pass from Rolando Ramirez to Koa Bartlett gave the Falcons a 7-0 lead with 2:11 remaining in the first half.

With no time left, the Falcons increased their lead to 10-0 when Robert Blanco’s 54-yard field-goal attempt hit the crossbar and tumbled over.

In the second half, Bartlett scored his second touchdown on the second play from scrimmage.

Ramirez dropped back and flipped the ball to running back Ryan Save, who passed to Bartlett, streaking down the sideline for a 55-yard touchdown and a 17-0 lead. Bartlett caught a game-high six passes for 139 yards.

“We played a complete game, especially on defense,” Steward said. The Falcons held Canyon (0-8, 0-3) to nine yards rushing and 19 passing in the first half.

Canyon scored late in the third quarter when Josh Chelini connected with Jermaine Montgomery on an 80-yard scoring pass.

A one-yard run by Falcons’ Eliu Fatu pushed the final score to 25-7.