PREP FOOTBALL : Hill’s Gambles Pay Off in 24-0 Loara Win

Loara High School recorded its second straight shutout Friday night as the Saxons defeated Anaheim, 24-0, in Glover Stadium.

Herb Hill, Loara coach, gambled on three fourth-down situations and it paid off as the Saxons (2-0) got a first down each time. The result: Two touchdowns that virtually put the game away in the third quarter.

It was the Loara defense, however, that was the difference.

Anaheim (0-2) drove into Loara territory only once in the first half and it came on a Micheal Banci interception with 3:26 remaining in the second quarter. Anaheim wasted the opportunity as quarterback Joaquin Garcia was stopped short on fourth and goal at the two-yard line.

A 28-yard pass from Loara quarterback Scott Wood to Edy Andros to the Colonist 10-yard line set up the Saxon’s first score. Brian Nichol’s swept into the end zone two plays later.

On its next possession, Loara got first downs on two fourth and three plays to allow Jeff Patterson to kick a 26-yard field goal. First, running back Brian Fisser barely gained the necessary three yards on Loara’s first gamble of the possession, then Wood hit Steve Nichols on a rollout on the second.

With 3:01 left in the third quarter and Loara facing a fourth and eight at the Anaheim 16, Wood rolled to his right and hit Tony Ferrentino for an 11-yard gain. Wood ran for a touchdown two plays later.

The Loara defense helped close out the scoring as Brian Roberts intercepted an Ernest Johnston pass and returned it 33 yards to the Anaheim five-yard line. Two plays later, Bob Titus dove over from the one. “We felt we had nothing to lose by going for it,” Hill said of the fourth-down gambles. “Sometimes, you just feel lucky.”

With Loara’s defense limiting Anaheim to 14 yards passing and 41 yards rushing, Hill had reason to feel lucky.

Wood completed only 7 of 19 passes for 79 yards with 3 interceptions. He rushed 34 yards on 5 carries.