Savanna's victory earns playoff spot

ANAHEIM - After Anaheim took a 3-0 lead with just over five minutes left in the first quarter, Savanna took charge of its Orange League destiny. It held the Colonists scoreless the rest of the way and recording a 24-3 victory in the regular-season finale for both teams at Glover Stadium.

The victory, coupled with Santa Ana Valley's 69-14 rout of Century, created a three-way tie for the league title among the winning teams and Anaheim.

A coin flip after the games determined that Anaheim (No. 1), Santa Ana Valley (No. 2) and Savanna (No. 3) will go in that order to next week's CIF Division IX playoffs.

Savanna (4-1, 6-4) outgained Anaheim (4-1, 5-5) in total yards, 281-178, though it looked like the Colonists would get the better of the Rebels as the game began.

Quarterback Phillip Marquez drove Anaheim 53 yards in nine plays, completing all four of his passes, before Jesse Aguilar booted a 47-yard field goal.

Savanna matched the field goal on its first drive, as Omar Colorado hit from 41 yards away with just under two minutes left in the first quarter.

From there, the Rebels put much more pressure on Marquez and were able to keep his receivers from getting open.

Sione Wolfgramm led the Rebel defense with three of the team's seven quarterback sacks and also intercepted a Marquez pass in the end zone early in the final period.

"We got more aggressive on defense after Anaheim scored," Savanna coach Roger Whelan said.

"That enabled us to shift the momentum of the game."

Savanna took the lead for good when Donald Livingston scored on a six-yard run with 70 seconds left in the first half.

A 35-yard pass from Jeremiah Rideaux to Breon Redman set up Livingston's score.

Rideaux and Redman connected again on a 30-yard pass, this one for a touchdown, after Savanna took the second-half kickoff. Redman completed the Rebel scoring with a four-yard TD run with 14 seconds left in the third quarter.