PLACENTIA — Valencia football coach Jason Gray was eager to see how his team would perform in the season-opener against Santa Ana.
Gray got his answer as the Tigers racked up over 200 yards on the ground en route to a 35-7 drubbing of the Saints on Thursday night at Valencia High.
“A lot of things went our way tonight but we have to play four quarters.” Gray said. “It’s one thing I really think that we need to focus on, is that we got to play a complete game. But we did some things tonight, you know, and I’m excited for the kids.”
Louis Galvan rushed for 182 yards and three touchdowns while the defense played solid for most of the night.
The Tigers (1-0) jumped out to a 22-0 lead, aided by a seven-play, 63-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 3-yard run by Galvan on their first possession.
Jackson Dias caught an 11-yard TD pass early in the second quarter and had a fumble return for a touchdown called back in the fourth quarter due to an illegal blocking penalty.
“That game wasn’t as far apart as it looked like it was and we know that,” Gray said, “but I’m excited for a great start, you know. A win is a win, they’re so precious, so we’ll take it.”
Santa Ana responded with a scoring drive of their own to start the second half as they leaned on their run game led by Evan Maldonado.
Maldonado (21 carries, 147 yards) carried the ball 10 times on that drive that nearly stalled near the goal line. Alejandro Gil was able to connect with Brandon Osorio for a 7-yard TD pass on fourth-and-goal to bring the Saints within two scores, 22-7.
“We were able to get some things going early in the second half but we were not able to sustain it tonight,” said Santa Ana head coach Luis Cruz.
Santa Ana (0-2) will look for its first win of the season next week against Garden Grove while Valencia hosts Rowland.
Cruz, who was a standout quarterback for Valencia during his playing days, faced his alma mater for the first time as a head coach.
“It’s great, it’s always great to be back,” he said.
Cruz was also an assistant on Gray’s staff for four years.
Gray had nothing but positive things to say about Cruz, who is in his second-year at the helm for the Saints.
“We’re just so happy for him,” Gray said. “You know, he’s been to a bunch of places. He did play here, he did coach for us, but, you know, he coached with Charlie (TeGantvoort) over at Santa Ana.
“He’s been around. He’s doing a great job. And they’re young. … And I know that he’s doing a great job. They’re doing a really good job, and it’s just good to see what a good job he is doing. And I know what kind of guy he is, and, you know, that’s going to be a school in that district where they’re going to do good things.”