Shine Leads Savanna to Victory Over Cypress

The Cypress High football team scored on its first drive Thursday night, the first touchdown of the season against the Savanna defense.

But Savanna took over after that and the result was a 25-6 victory for the Rebels (2-1) before about 700 in a nonleague game at Western High.

Cypress (0-3) could not contain Savanna’s Eric Shine, who gained 158 yards in 19 carries and scored two touchdowns for the Rebels before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a slight ankle sprain.

“He makes things happen, that’s what we need,” Savanna Coach Fred Di Palma said. “We could have put him back in the game but we were not going to take any chances.”

Cypress also lost a key player, senior running back Bobby Brito, who limped to the sideline after his team’s second play of the game and did not return. Brito walked up and down the sideline the rest of the night.

Shine scored on a 47-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to tie the score, 6-6. On Savanna’s first possession of the second half, Shine struck again with a 16-yard touchdown run.

The Centurions skidded in the fourth quarter after Savanna’s Leon Kellum returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown and Matt Mitchell kicked the only extra point of the night, giving Savanna a 19-6 lead.

Cypress fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and Brandon Bird recovered for Savanna, returning it 15 yards for the final score.

The Centurions’ only touchdown came after a well-executed 12-play, 69-yard march. Nick Vanderwal passed to Joe Gaitley for a 13-yard touchdown play.