Robinson’s 287 Yards Sets Mark; Dons’ Streak at 7

Santa Ana’s Tramel Robinson started Saturday’s game with a much more modest goal than the rushing yardage he compiled in the Dons’ 42-28 victory over Riverside in a Mission Conference Central Division game at Santa Ana Stadium.

He had hoped to gain at least 140 yards in order to reach 1,000-yard mark for the season. Instead, he set a Santa Ana single-game record, rushing for 287 yards.

“I got up this morning not thinking about anything like this,” Robinson said. But the previous record of 277, set by Keith Luhnow in 1961, came into focus after a 53-yard run, which gave him 258 yards for the game, with about nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. That run was made possible by the quick thinking of punter Joey Meza earlier in the drive.

Santa Ana faced fourth and three at its 23, when Meza stepped around a Riverside rusher and ran five yards for a first down. “I saw the guy diving before I even dropped the ball and I looked up and it was open, so I ran,” Meza said.

Three plays later, Robinson took the ball around right end, got a key block from fullback Spencer Frost, cut to the middle and was finally tackled at the Riverside nine-yard line. John Duhon Jr. later scored from a yard to give Santa Ana a 42-28 lead with 7 minutes 53 seconds left.

It was the third touchdown of the half for Santa Ana, which trailed at halftime, 28-21.

Robinson, who had 33 carries, scored two touchdowns and Frost had a touchdown rushing and two receiving for Santa Ana (7-3, 6-0), which won its final seven games.

The Dons will receive a bowl berth when the game managers meet today. “I have no idea where we’re going,” Santa Ana Coach Dave Ogas said. “I talked to a lot of people this week but I have no clue. But I just want to do what’s best for the team.”