Short-Handed Western Survives Anaheim’s Late Rally to Win

Will Ruffin rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown and returned an interception 85 yards for another score to help Western defeat Anaheim, 20-13, in an Orange League game Friday at Glover Stadium.

With Anaheim trailing 20-13, David Lopez, who had 206 yards rushing in 35 carries, caught two passes for 79 yards in the drive to help Anaheim move to the Western three-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.

But Anaheim was flagged for a 15-yard penalty for calling a time out without having any left. From the 18, quarterback Ryan Paterson’s fourth-down pass was broken up with 10 seconds remaining by Kyle Stanley and the victory was sealed.

Anaheim (1-8, 0-4) took a 6-0 first-quarter lead when Rafael Osorio caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Paterson.

The Pioneers (5-3-1, 2-1-1) struggled with seven players sitting out due to academic suspensions.

But they took the lead when reserve quarterback Kyle Stanley completed a 66-yard touchdown pass to John Whittman in the second quarter, 7-6.

Anaheim took the second-half kickoff and drove to the Western 21, but Ruffin intercepted a pass at the 15 and returned it for a touchdown and a 14-6 lead.

Paterson’s an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Rodrigo Rangel on a fourth and three gave Western its 20-13 lead.