ORANGE LEAGUE : Shine Wins Battle and Savanna Wins War With Anaheim, 27-6

It seemed appropriate that in a matchup of the Orange League’s two premier running backs, Savanna’s Eric Shine should find himself darting 60 yards toward the end zone with only Anaheim’s Reuben Droughns to beat.

Droughns could not catch him and Shine carried Savanna to a 27-6 victory over Anaheim Thursday night at Glover Stadium.

Savanna improved to 6-1, 2-0 in league. Anaheim is 1-6, 0-2.

Shine, the county’s leading rusher coming into the game, rushed for 122 yards and scored two touchdowns in 12 carries (109 yards in the first half) and claimed a victory in the head-to-head battle with Droughns.

“I’m just trying to show people that I’m the best running back in the Orange League, not Reuben,” Shine said.

Droughns, however, wasn’t about to concede that and played as if he had something to prove.

The Colonists’ senior running back racked up 117 yards in 16 carries, including a four-yard touchdown run during which he flattened defensive back Leon Kellum as they butted helmets at the goal line.

Droughns also moved into fourth place on the county’s all-time rushing list, boosting his total to 4,557 yards, 16 behind Irvine’s Scott Seal for third.

Savanna held Anaheim’s other rushers to 31 yards and sacked quarterback Luis Gomez six times for minus-57 yards.