PREP FOOTBALL / CENTURY LEAGUE : Santa Ana Valley Moves Closer to the Playoffs With Victory

SANTA ANA — Santa Ana Valley’s 37-6 Century League victory over visiting El Modena Saturday night left the Falcons a victory away from their first playoff berth in 17 years.

Running back B.J. Wallace rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns in 16 carries as the Falcons remained in a first-place tie with Foothill and Villa Park. They can clinch a playoff berth with a victory over Villa Park on Friday night.

“We’re in the hunt,” Falcons Coach Scott Orloff said. “One more victory and that will qualify us for the first time since 1978. It’s been a while. These kids have worked hard for it and they deserve it.”

Santa Ana Valley sealed the victory by taking advantage of two crucial first-half mistakes by the Vanguards.

A one-yard scoring run by Leafi Naea gave the Falcons (6-2, 2-1) a 7-0 lead with 4 minutes 41 seconds remaining in the first quarter before El Modena’s miscues opened the door for two more touchdowns in the second quarter.

Safety Garfield Banner recovered a fumbled punt in the end zone with 8:39 left in the second for one score, and an interception by Larry Page led to a dazzling 18-yard touchdown run by quarterback Ricky Chavez with two seconds left in the half. It gave Santa Ana Valley, which made two-point conversions after each score, a 23-0 advantage at intermission.

Wallace, the team’s leading rusher with 958 yards, added scoring runs of four and 72 yards in the second half to give him 14 touchdowns this season, tops on the club.

El Modena (5-3, 1-2) got its lone score with 9:13 left in the third quarter on a five-yard run by Dan Kingman.