Savanna’s King, Waldrop Too Much for Buena Park

Defensive linemen don’t exactly shudder when they see Savanna High’s Daven King running at them with the football.

After all, the sophomore running back stands only 5 feet 8 and weighs 140 pounds.

But catching him is a different story, as Buena Park discovered Thursday night.

King rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns as Savanna beat Buena Park, 28-15, in a nonleague game at Glover Stadium.

King’s touchdowns, on runs of three and 22 yards, and two touchdowns passes by Paul Waldrop helped the Rebels improve to 2-2. Buena Park is 0-4.

“Daven ran very well,” Savanna Coach Fred DiPalma said. “He’s only a sophomore and he’s just learning.”

The Rebels’ defense shut down Buena Park except for two long touchdown runs--49 yards in the first quarter by Hector Rubio and 69 yards by George McDonald early in the third quarter.

Savanna trailed, 7-6, late in the second quarter when the Rebels’ defense set up their second touchdown.

Defensive tackle Curtis Larsen recovered a bad pitch by Buena Park quarterback Alan Buckley at the Coyote seven-yard line with 3 minutes 38 seconds remaining in the quarter.

Three plays later, King scored from three yards out. Waldrop ran for the two-point conversion, and the Rebels had a 14-7 halftime lead.

King’s second touchdown run, a 22-yarder on the opening possession of the second half, pushed the Rebels’ lead to 21-7.

But McDonald’s 69-yard touchdown run cut Buena Park’s deficit to 21-13, and the Coyotes’ two-point conversion made it 21-15 with 8:01 left in the third quarter.

Waldrop’s second touchdown pass--13 yards to Steve Broswell with 5:52 left in the game--sealed the victory for the Rebels.