Northwood survives challenge from Savanna

IRVINE - Savanna appeared to be headed for an upset over Northwood in the opening round of the CIF-SS Southern Division playoffs at Irvine on Friday night.

But the third-seeded Timberwolves made a big stop in the final minutes and held on to win, 22-19.

Northwood, competing in the playoffs for the first time since 2005, advanced into the second round next week against Segerstrom.

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“In the playoffs, sometimes you just have to survive,” Northwood coach Rick Curtis said. “That’s about what we did tonight.”

Northwood (7-3-1) won despite turning the ball over three times on fumbles and once on an interception.

Savanna (4-7) had success running the ball against Northwood. Anthony Doomes led the way, rushing for 123 yards on 22 carries.

The Rebels advanced to the Northwood 11-yard line with 1:35 left, but a pass attempt fell incomplete, ending the upset bid.

“They battled, I was really proud of them,” Savanna coach Roger Whalen said of his squad. “We had our chances.”

Savanna took a 19-14 lead when quarterback Jeremiah Rideaux scored on a 9-yard TD run with 3:14 left in the third quarter.

The Rebels looked like they were going to move the ball again when they took over late in the third quarter.

But Savanna fumbled on its 18-yard line and Northwood’s Kevin Norman scooped up the ball and raced 15 yards into the end zone for a TD to put the Timberwolves ahead, 20-19.

Quarterback Ricky Bautista then connected with Kevin Fiege on a 2-point conversion to put Northwood ahead, 22-19, with five seconds left in the third quarter.

Savanna drove to the Northwood 32-yard line on its next drive, and following a 32-yard run by Doomes, Northwood linebacker Austin Hwang collapsed going back to the huddle. The game was delayed about 15 minutes. Paramedics treated Hwang, who suffered an asthma attack, Curtis said.

Hwang eventually returned to watch the rest of the game on the bench and appeared to be OK.

Northwood was able to stop Savanna on that drive.