PALM DESERT — The Xavier Prep High School football team was more determined than ever Friday. Last week the Saints suffered their worst loss of the season at the hands of Oak Hills.

After giving up a touchdown to the San Diego's Rock Academy Warriors on the opening drive of the game Friday, the Saints scored 48 consecutive points on their way to a 55-12 victory.

“I told the guys last week this was the toughest test we would face all year,” said coach Darrell Lewis about the much bigger Oak Hills team. “When we get a chance to play teams similar to us, it's good to see us play this well.”

The Saints (3-6) started the game on defense and allowed the Warriors to move the ball. After starting near midfield, it only took the Warriors six plays to put the first points on the board. That, however, would be the most efficient drive Rock Academy would produce all game.

The Xavier offense needed to wait a little longer for its first chance with the ball. On the ensuing kickoff, Saints tailback Domonic De La Riva ran it all the way back, 84 yards for the score.

After a missed extra point the game was tied 6-6 halfway through the first quarter. The Warriors received the kick and fumbled the ball. Rock Academy recovered, however, and maintain possession. That was one of nine fumbles by the Warriors but somehow they recovered every one.

On only the second play of the drive, Warrior quarterback Jay Dutra looked for a receiver over the middle.

The person he found was Saints senior cornerback and quarterback Anthony Neyer, who picked off the pass and returned it to the Warrior 13-yard line.

Now the Saints had their first shot on offense with a very short field. It only took three plays for Neyer to find sophomore tight end Tola Omilana for an 8-yard touchdown pass. The Saints took the lead and never looked back.

Xavier's defense was excellent the rest of the first half. The next four Rock Academy possessions resulted in four total yards, two punts and a great sliding interception by senior defensive back Jordon Goldstein.

The next four Saints possessions were the exact opposite. Xavier needed 10 total plays to put the ball in the end zone four more times before the half. De La Riva had a pair of scores, including a 12-yard run, and a 49-yard catch from Neyer, and the Saints had a 41-6 lead at the break.

“The offensive line was blowing up big holes all day and that was huge,” said Neyer after completing 5-of-6 passes for 107 yards and three scores. “Coach had us watch a lot of film on these guys, and it was almost like we knew what they were going to do.”