ORANGE COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL : Callahan, Defense Lift Loara Over Western, 7-6

Chris Callahan of Loara High School had weightier matters than football on his mind before the Saxons’ 7-6 victory over Western Thursday night before 2,000 in Handel Stadium.

Callahan’s father died of cancer last Friday, and Chris had attended his funeral Wednesday afternoon.

Callahan, a senior starting his first game at defensive end, played nevertheless, and had a superb debut.

He was in on just about every big defense play the Saxons had in the opener for both teams Thursday night.

Most important was his tackle on Western running back Ray Welch on a second and 10 at the Pioneers’ 40 with less than 2:50 remaining. Callahan dropped Welch, who led all rushers with 47 yards on 14 carries, for a one-yard loss. Two incomplete passes followed and the Saxons held on fourth down.

“(My father) would have wanted me to be here playing tonight,” Callahan said. “Before the game we prayed and I just said, ‘This game’s for you, Dad.’ ”

Trailing, 6-0, in the fourth quarter, Loara’s offense, which had been shaky all night, finally started clicking.

The Pioneers had taken their, lead on a one-yard run by quarterback Joey Huy with 17 seconds left in the first quarter. Paco Jiminez’s kick was blocked by Adrian Oliphant, however.

The Saxons, starting at the Western 45-yard line, moved to the 15. The two big plays were passes from quarterback Bill Jarman to Eric Smith and Bill Gaynor, for 14- and 12-yard gains.

But the Pioneer defense stiffened at their own 11. Facing a fourth and 1 at the 11, Jarman crossed-up the Pioneers, who were bunched at the line of scrimmage expecting a run, with a pass to tight end Korey Kowata for an 11-yard touchdown.

“To tell you the truth, I didn’t think we could run for a yard on them at that point,” Herb Hill, Loara coach, said.

Don Bradshaw then kicked the extra point to give Loara the win.

Western kept the ball virtually the entire first half, including the final 9:39 of the second quarter. The could not manage to score on that 19 play marathon drive that began on their own 24, though.

After reaching the 15, Callahan sacked Huy for a five-yard loss. Western lost five more yards on an offsides penalty. Another penalty and yet another sack by Callahan left the Pioneers back at the 29 with a fourth down and 23 to got with just three seconds left in the half.

A pass off of a faked field goal attempt went incomplete as time ran out.