ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL / PREP EXTRA : Shine’s Usual Game Helps Savanna Drop Valencia for a Loss

There were few glitches in Savanna’s 28-14 Orange League victory over Valencia at Glover Stadium Friday.

Eric Shine, the county’s leading rusher, delivered again for Savanna (5-1, 1-0 in league). He gained 210 yards in 22 carries and scored two touchdowns, including a 65-yard scoring run.

When Valencia (1-5, 0-1) tried to stop Shine, Savanna’s passing game clicked. Quarterback Brandon Warden completed nine of 14 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns--both to wide receiver Jason Smith, who caught six passes for 109 yards--helping the Rebels take a 28-0 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Savanna’s defense, which had given up only 17 points in its first five games, shut out Valencia for 3 1/2 quarters. Valencia managed only 59 total yards and two first downs through three quarters.

Valencia scored two touchdowns in the final 5 minutes 30 seconds to erase the shutout, but Savanna was never threatened.

Savanna thoroughly dominated Valencia, a program that has won 10 of the last 12 Orange League titles.

Savanna won its first Orange League title last season and its first Southern Section championship in 1993. But Friday’s convincing victory didn’t have Coach Fred Di Palma making championship plans yet.

“We have some potential,” Di Palma said. “But we have to focus on next week and one game at a time.”

Savanna’s focus drifted at times Friday. Its first-string defense gave up the late touchdowns and the offense lost two of four fumbles. The special teams also had a bad snap on a first-quarter field goal attempt, helping to keep the game scoreless until the second quarter.

That’s when Shine delivered the first big play. He took a pitch from Warden on an option and weaved through the Tigers for a 65-yard touchdown run with 8:44 remaining in the second quarter.

Smith also delivered big plays. Late in the second quarter, Smith’s 28-yard reception put Savanna at the Valencia one and Shine scored from there.

Smith caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Warden to make it 21-0 with 4:14 remaining in the third quarter, and he caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Warden to make it 28-0 with 10:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Valencia finally came to life, producing an 11-play, 74-yard scoring drive fueled by running backs Julian Gomez (15 carries, 78 yards) and Jimmy DiDodo.

Valencia quarterback Eric Young completed only two passes in the second half, but both were for touchdowns. An eight-yard touchdown pass to Alan Manning capped the first drive, cutting the lead to 28-7 with 5:30 remaining.

After Savanna fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, Young tossed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Chris Terry to cut the lead to 28-14.