Savona Steps In, Steps Up in Irvine’s Victory

Jake Savona stood there, arm raised, helmet in hand. Quarterback Jared Flint approached.

“You really stepped up tonight,” Flint told him.

Flint was stating the obvious.

Savona, filling in for the starting tailback, rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns to lead Irvine to a 21-13 nonleague victory over Anaheim on Thursday.

The 2,000 at Irvine High may have expected to see one standout rushing performance--Reuben Droughns plays for Anaheim (0-3)--but got more than they bargained for.

Savona stepped in for Russ Diehl, who fractured his hand in last week’s 22-0 victory over Mission Viejo. Savona found out Wednesday he was starting. On Thursday, he played the role like Clark Gable.

“This was the best game I’ve ever had,” said Savona, who said he once rushed for 260 as a freshman. “I was so hyped from the adrenaline. It was just incredible.

“I knew [Droughns] was the best and I just wanted to shoot to his ability.”

Droughns, who rushed for 1,752 yards in 10 games last year, finished with 143 yards in 22 carries, but 71 came on his final attempt, which pulled the Colonists to within eight points, 21-13. Ricardo Villanueva’s extra-point attempt was blocked by Irvine’s Darren Bell.

It was Droughns’ second touchdown. He had scored with 3 minutes 39 seconds left in the first half and Villanueva’s extra point tied the score, 7-7.

But the game turned on the next series.

Irvine (2-1) put together a seven-play, 78-yard drive to break the tie. Savona carried twice for 15 yards, and Flint (13 for 20, 207 yards) completed passes of 21, eight, 11 and 22 yards; the latter went to Corey McCauley for a touchdown with 1:02 left.

Irvine punctuated that drive on the first series of the second half, going 86 yards in six plays. Flint completed passes of 40 yards to Savona and 10 to Kyle Stjerne, and Savona rushed four times for 25 yards--the last five for a touchdown.

Irvine took a 7-0 lead on Savona’s nine-yard run, completing a 43-yard drive that was helped along by Flint’s 25-yard pass to Zubin Irani.

McCauley caught five passes for 80 yards.