Waldrop Keeps Savanna’s Unbeaten Streak Alive at Five

Savanna quarterback Paul Waldrop completed 10 of 12 for 160 yards and three touchdowns Friday night as the Rebels crushed La Habra, 47-19, in a nonleague game at La Habra High.

Waldrop completed touchdown passes of 49, 24 and 12 yards to Mike Hynes. Hynes, a 6-foot-2, 189-pound wide receiver, caught nine passes for 148 yards.

“I was happy with the way the team came back,” Savanna Coach Fred DiPalma said. “I was pleased with the play of my quarterback, running backs and receivers.”

Daven King, a junior running back, rushed for 82 yards in 16 carries and scored on runs of two-, four- and 12 yards. Savanna running back Canhhuy Nguyen finished with 84 yards in 10 carries.

The Rebels, though, fell behind quickly when La Habra’s Sonje Berg hit Johnny Yoo with a screen pass for a 71-yard touchdown. Berg completed 14 of 23 pass attempts for 238 yards and three touchdowns.

Savanna led, 7-6, but La Habra regained the lead when Berg passed to Royce Watanabe for a 17-yard touchdown. Savanna took back the lead 13-12, when Waldrop and Hynes connected on the 12-yard touchdown pass.

Bebrick Ennis and Tom Cho each had an interception for Savanna. Defensive back Rani Kahouch returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.

“After a slow start, I was pleased with the way the defense picked it up,” DiPalma said. “La Habra was a tough team. They came out strong.

Savanna opens league play Thursday against Western (4-1).