High School Football: Upset-minded Seahawks fall short

SANTA ANA — Each time the Ocean View High football team tried to pick on Santa Ana junior defensive back Joshua Brito on Friday night, Brito made a play.

Ocean View aired it out to 6-foot-5 junior receiver Adam Meyer three times in coverage against Brito, who is listed at 5-7. The first play Brito made saved a touchdown in the end zone in the first quarter, and the second stopped a long gain in the second quarter

The third play, an interception in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, iced the Saints’ Golden West League win. Santa Ana survived an upset scare to beat Ocean View, 14-7, at Santa Ana Stadium.

Brito kept making plays in the defensive struggle for Santa Ana (8-0, 3-0 in league), the top-ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division 13. On his interception, he used inside position to catch the ball at the Santa Ana 39-yard line with 1:29 remaining in the fourth quarter.

A first down and a couple of kneels later and Ocean View fell to 4-4, and 1-2 in league despite holding the Saints to what was easily a season-low point total.

“Obviously, we showed we can play with anybody in our division,” Seahawks Coach Luis Nunez said. “We just couldn’t get it going offensively. I give their defense over there a lot of credit; they did a good job of pinning us all night. We just couldn’t get anything going. Our defense played their butts off, we just couldn’t get anything going … [but] our kids were up to the challenge, and I’m proud of them. They came out and threw blows with them for four quarters.”

Still, as Santa Ana stayed undefeated and can now prepare for a first-place showdown against Segerstrom next Friday, Ocean View fell further behind the leaders in league. Segerstrom is the top-ranked team in Division 12.

“We’ve got to win out and hope for teams to beat each other, hope for third or a tie for second and win a coin flip,” Nunez said. “It’s going to be difficult, with so many teams in our division. The Golden West League is a tough league this year. I really believe every game is going to be like this, and it has been.”

Ocean View took the lead on its second drive of the game, which started with a fumble recovery by Alex Nieves. The big gain on the 10-play, 61-yard drive was a 32-yard carry by senior Chase Foreman, setting up Ocean View with first-and-goal. Two plays later, senior quarterback Xavier Salgado ran the sneak in from a yard out, and the Seahawks were up by a touchdown.

Santa Ana, which Coach Charlie TeGantvoort said is trying to win its first league title since 1989, responded in the second quarter on a highlight play. Damian Macias’ pass to Jonathan Briseno went for 42 yards and a touchdown, most of the yardage coming after Briseno leaped over the Ocean View cornerback and took it to the house.

The Saints added the game’s final score midway through the third quarter. Tui Levao’s first carry of the game went up the middle for 17 yards and a touchdown.

Ocean View had four different possessions in the fourth quarter but couldn’t manage a first down. For the game, the Seahawks totaled just 147 yards from scrimmage.

Santa Ana wasn’t much more efficient. The Ocean View defense sacked Macias five times, and Foreman had an interception.

“Even when we don’t play well, we find ways to win,” TeGantvoort said. “It isn’t the best thing in the world, but winning is always better than losing. What that shows is that even when we’re messing up physically or mentally, our heart is always in the game. The best thing about this team this year is our heart. I can’t tell you how many come-from-behind victories we’ve had, and that’s what I’m proud of.”

He was also proud of Brito, who didn’t let his 10-inch height disadvantage get in the way of making plays.

“I don’t know how tall he is, but it’s not as tall as [Meyer],” TeGantvoort said. “He made three great plays. They kept going to him, and he kept making plays. It shows that size and all of that doesn’t matter; it’s heart. [Meyer] is a great receiver, but Brito just played excellent and I’m very proud of him.”

Ocean View is now in fourth place in the six-team league, a half-game behind Westminster, which plays Orange on Saturday night. The Seahawks’ next game also is against Orange, next Friday at El Modena High.

Golden West League

Santa Ana 14, Ocean View 7

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Ocean View 7 – 0 – 0 – 0 — 7

Santa Ana 0 – 7 – 7 – 0 — 14

FIRST QUARTER

OV – Salgado 1 run (Meyer kick), 3:16.

SECOND QUARTER

SA – Jon. Briseno 42 pass from Macias (Mojica kick), 9:38.

THIRD QUARTER

SA – Levao 17 run (Mojica kick), 6:33.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

OV – Deloera, 13-49.

SA – Pacheco, 17-57.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

OV – Salgado, 3-11-1, 21.

SA – Macias, 7-14-1, 99, 1 TD.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

OV – Washington, 2-15.

SA – Jon. Briseno, 5-84, 1 TD.