ANAHEIM – Raymond Serna had two touchdown runs of 5 yards and a fourth-quarter interception to lead Anaheim past Magnolia, 20-13, in a hard-fought Orange League opener for both teams Thursday night at Glover Stadium.
The 5-foot-6, 170-pound Serna was a workhorse for the Colonists, carrying the ball 30 times for 104 yards.
He scored the decisive touchdown with nine seconds remaining in the third period. Serna also caught four passes for 40 yards from quarterback Adam Rodriguez, who completed 11 of 16 for 152 yards and one touchdown. He didn’t have an interception.
Magnolia (0-6) didn’t have a first down in the second half, created by a combination of Anaheim’s time-consuming ball-control offense and two turnovers.
Tied 13 at halftime, Anaheim (2-4) marched 74 yards on 13 plays with the opening possession of the third period. But on fourth-and-4 from the 8-yard line, Magnolia stopped Ricardo Godinez 1 yard short of a first down.
The Colonists drove 55 yards on eight plays for a touchdown on its second possession of the second half. Serna had a 23-yard reception from Rodriguez and his 5-yard run and Jesus Varela’s PAT put Anaheim on top, 20-13.
Magnolia quarterback Nathan Michel threw two touchdown passes in a first half that ended 13-13.
Michel zipped a medium-range pass to Rafael Villegas, who turned it into 54-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead with 8:15 remaining in the first quarter.
Anaheim drove 79 yards on 13 plays to tie the game at 7 on Serna’s 5-yard run.
Damien Rosales caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Michel to put Magnolia ahead, 13-7, with 3:53 left in the second period.
Rodriguez completed a 26-yard pass to Julian Ureno and a 36-yarder to Andreas Odundo for a touchdown that tied it 13-13 at halftime.
Next week, Anaheim will play Katella at Western High on Thursday night, while Magnolia will play Santa Ana Valley on Oct. 14.
