Pedroza Combination Locks Up Saddleback Victory Over Falcons

SANTA ANA — Saddleback needed a fourth-quarter touchdown by fullback David Pedroza, his third of the game, to hold off Santa Ana Valley, 31-21, in a nonleague game Thursday night at Santa Ana Stadium.

Pedroza scored on a five-yard pass from quarterback Sal Pedroza with a little more than three minutes remaining to clinch the victory. The Pedrozas hooked up twice in the first half on touchdown completions of seven and 26 yards as Saddleback took a 24-7 halftime lead.

Santa Ana Valley bounced back in the second half when quarterback Rolando Ramirez got on a roll. Ramirez completed 13 of his first 15 passes in the half and finished 22 of 35 for 333 yards and two touchdowns. The second touchdown pass--nine yards to Larry Chavez--cut the Saddleback lead to 24-14. Santa Ana Valley (0-3) held Saddleback on its next possession and drove to the one-yard line. Ramirez tried take it in on a quarterback sneak but fumbled into the end zone. Offensive lineman Danny Godinez fell on the ball for a touchdown pulling Santa Ana Valley within three, 24-21.

Saddleback (1-2) then tried to run down the clock by handing off to running back Joseph Tagaloa. Tagaloa, who didn’t play last week because of a knee injury, carried six times for 72 yards before the final touchdown pass.