Savanna Shuts Down Magnolia

Fred DiPalma, Savanna football coach, learned that the best defensive game plan to use against Magnolia was not to have one.

“We wanted to keep it as simple as we could,” DiPalma said after the Rebels held Magnolia to only seven yards total offense in the second half of a 17-8 victory Thursday night at Glover Stadium.

“We really didn’t have much of a game plan. We felt our defensive front could do a good job. We don’t try anything fancy. We just play good defense.”

The Rebels stuck to a basic four-four defense--four down linemen, two inside linebackers and two outside linebackers--to hold Magnolia to only 58 yards total offense. The Sentinels crossed midfield only twice, once in the second half.

Savanna’s defense, which gave up 334 points last season, took advantage of Magnolia’s inexperienced offensive line, holding the Sentinels to a net loss of one yard rushing and forcing quarterbacks Elliot Parker and Josh Acosta to each throw an interception.

“Our defense played really well,” DiPalma said. “Offensively, we had our moments.”

Savanna’s first moment came on the fifth play of the game when quarterback Carlos Robledo threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Vince Flores.

The Rebels increased their lead to 10-0 on Keith Cruz’s 23-yard field goal with 2:06 remaining in the first quarter. Savanna had driven 50 yards for a first-and-goal on Magnolia’s five-yard line, but gained nothing on three running plays before Cruz’s kick.

Magnolia’s defense set up the Sentinels’ only score. Defensive back Trent Comer intercepted a Robledo pass at the Magnolia 15-yard line and returned it for a touchdown, but a clipping penalty on the return brought the play back to Savanna’s 42.

Five plays later, Parker scored on a three-yard run, and a two-point conversion cut the lead to 10-8 at halftime.

Running back Kension PoChing scored on a one-yard run with 8:58 left in the third quarter to seal the victory for Savanna. PoChing had 89 yards in 19 carries as the Rebels finished with 192 yards total offense.

Savanna is 3-3 overall, 1-0 in the Orange League; Magnolia dropped to 0-6.

“It feels really good to be 1-0 in the league,” DiPalma said. “But things won’t get any easier next Thursday (against Valencia).”