In their fourth and final year under head coach Homer Beatty, the Dons compiled a perfect 10–0 record, won the Eastern Conference championship, defeated Columbia Basin in the Junior Rose Bowl.
[4][5] Four Santa Ana players were selected by J.C. Grid-Wire for the junior college All-America team.
Quarterback Dunn Marteen and linebacker Dick Litzinger were named to the first team.
[6] Marteen also won the team's most valuable player award, and Litzinger won the Tucker Memorial Trophy as the team's most inspirational player.
[5] The team's assistant coaches were Russ Chesley (backs), Bill Dutton (line), and Myrel Moore (ends).