ANAHEIM – The buzz that Magnolia’s football team is improved grew louder Thursday night with an emotional victory.
Seniors Kalolo Pangia and Montez De Marrco each scored three touchdowns in the first half, sending the host Sentinels to a 46-8 season-opening victory against Glenn of Norwalk at Glover Stadium.
Magnolia edged Glenn, 14-7, in the teams’ season-opener last year, but the Sentinels return their starting offensive and defensive lines this fall to go along with running back Pangia and De Marrco.
The Sentinels scored 36 points in the first quarter, and led 46-0 at halftime after scoring on its first seven possessions.
The Sentinels’ fast start led to a running clock in the second half.
“We hadn’t had one like this in a while at Magnolia,” Sentinels sixth-year coach Ryan Olson said.
“(Glenn) pushed us around last year and it was different this year. We were physically superior.”
And the running clock?
“It’s always been on us,” said Olson, whose team went 5-6 last season. “Things are turning around. We’re changing the culture.”
Pangia sparked Magnolia by returning the opening kickoff 52 yards to the Glenn 33. He scored on a 33-yard run on the next play, using a stiff-arm to reach the end zone.
Pangia added a 5-yard scoring run later in the first and broke a 79-yard touchdown run in the second quarter en route to 176 yards on six carries.
De Marrco scored on a 63-yard touchdown pass for a 14-0 lead, taking a short screen from Raymond Perez and racing untouched for his first career score. He added a touchdown run of 22 yards on an inside handoff and later ran in from 13 yards while lined up at quarterback.
De Marrco and Pangia said the Sentinels played in the memory of teammate Laquan Pleas, an all-league cornerback who died in April from cardiac arrest.
“This season is dedicated to him,” Pangia said.
De Marrco praised his team’s offensive linemen, guard Alfonso Vergara, center Israel Munoz, guard Carlos Cruz, tackle Vincent Bolanos and substitute tackle Estevan Garcia. Magnolia finished with 301 yards rushing.
“The line is really experienced,” De Marrco said.
Perez, a sophomore, started at quarterback and finished 4 for 4 for 129 yards.
Magnolia also recovered two fumbles and received big hits on defense from middle linebacker Nickolas Garcia and corner Victor Pina.
“We hit tonight,” Olson said. “We’ve got some studs.”
Glenn, coached by second-year Vince Lobendahn — father of USC offensive linemen Toa Lobendahn (La Habra) — had only about 25 players, with few seniors.
“I wish I had him today,” the coach said of his son.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
