Savanna’s Shine Runs Past Newport Harbor for 190 Yards

Eric Shine rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns Thursday night to lead Savanna over Newport Harbor, 20-0, in a nonleague football game before 2,000 at Newport Harbor High.

Shine, the county’s third-leading rusher, set the tone of the game, carrying the ball on 11 of the Rebels’ first 14 plays.

He capped a seven-play, 34-yard drive with a seven-yard scoring run with 2 minutes 11 seconds left in the first quarter, giving Savanna the only lead it would need. Then he raced 11 yards for another score with less than 10 minutes left in the half. The run ended a 45-yard, 10-play drive.

Shine, a 5-foot-9, 165-pound senior, scored his third--and prettiest--touchdown on the second play of the third quarter from the Rebel 24 after losing two yards on his first carry. He took a delayed handoff from quarterback Brandon Warden, broke off right tackle and bobbed and weaved his way to the 32-yard line. From there, he danced to the outside around Sailor defensive back Greg Wertman, ran past several defenders at the 45 and then headed up the Sailors’ sideline for a 76-yard touchdown. He carried the ball 29 times on the evening.

“I don’t really think about the stats until the next day,” said Shine, who has gained 885 yards on the ground this season. “The line was getting all its blocks down and making all the holes.”

Shine entered the game tied for fourth in the county in scoring and now has 11 touchdowns.

Newport Harbor (2-3) had an all-around dismal night. Quarterback Josiah Fredrikson completed five of 14 passes for only 19 yards with two interceptions. The Sailors lost two fumbles and were penalized four times for 46 yards. Their deepest penetration came late in the third quarter at the Savanna 33-yard line.

Running back Chris Morrell carried 15 times for 48 yards for Newport Harbor.

Savanna (4-1) outgained the Sailors 301 to 70 in total yardage.

“I credit our line and obviously Eric did a good job too,” Savanna Coach Fred DiPalma said.