Magnolia Scores Early, and Holds On to Score Victory

Magnolia High School took control early Thursday night but barely held on for a 20-14 nonleague victory over Rancho Alamitos in nonleague action at Glover Stadium.

“We’re not used to being on top,” Sentinel Coach John Hangartner said. “After the first quarter I thought it would be easy.”

Who could blame Hangartner for being optimistic after the Sentinels scored on their first two possessions. Tailback Scott Fay scored on a one-yard run after a 71-yard, 12-play drive, and fullback Ed Pauley ran in from two yards out to give Magnolia (2-2-1) a 14-0 lead .

The Vaqueros (0-5) rallied when John Newsome hit Sean Cheatham from six yards for a second-quarter touchdown.

On the opening drive of the second half, Newsome, who completed) 15 of 28 passes for 161 yards, moved the Vaqueros 84 yards. He capped the drive by throwing a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Belwood to tie the game.

The Vaquero defense, which stopped Magnolia in the second and third quarters, gave in in the fourth period.

Jose Myers returned a short punt 26 yards giving the Sentinels the ball at Rancho Alamitos’ 48-yard line. Magnolia used a rushing game to mount a successful drive, Pauley scoring with 9:50 remaining.

“Rancho’s defense gave us a lot of problems with their stunting,” Hangartner said.