PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP : Savanna Defeats Magnolia, Clinches Berth in Playoffs

Anaheim Savanna, once one of the least successful high school football teams in Orange County and last season among the most notorious, erased some bad memories Thursday night at Glover Stadium.

By virtue of a 42-0 victory over Magnolia, the Rebels clinched a spot in the Southern Section Division VI playoffs. It will be their first playoff appearance since 1983.

A year ago, the Rebels finished as the Orange League’s co-champion with Valencia. However, they had to forfeit all of their games because of an ineligible player. The team’s booster club attempted to get a court order to reinstate the Rebels, but were denied.

Brad Belanger led the Rebels by completing 16 of 20 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns. Belanger had 155 yards passing the first half, throwing touchdown passes of 14 and 20 yards to Hien Nguyen and nine yards to Scott Bird.

Savanna is 6-2-2 overall and 3-1-1 in the league play. Magnolia is 1-9 and 0-5.