PHOTOS: Saddleback running game clicks in Zeta League victory over Savanna

Saddleback running back Fabian Bravo takes off for a gain as Savannah’s Fabrissio Ramírez pursues during the first quarter Friday night. (PHOTOS: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Saddleback High School’s football team used a dynamic inside running attack and a solid defense to defeat Savanna 34-13 in a Zeta League game Friday night at Saddleback.

Roadrunners’ junior running back Fabian Bravo rushed for a career-high 239 yards and scored a career-high three touchdowns to lead Saddleback to its third consecutive win.

“The key was that the coaches pushed us this week and the offensive line was outstanding,” said Bravo, who had three runs of 25 yards or better and has amassed 646 yards on the ground this season. “The difference is now that we expect to win each time out.”

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Saddleback’s front line of Josiah Pedroza, Adrian Escobar, Ryan Azpeitia, Joseph Mateos, Pablo Guadarrama-Sanchez, Miguel Rodriguez, Ralph Vargas, and Andre Raiford dominated the line of scrimmage and consistently opened holes for Bravo and quarterback Andre Scott.

Scott rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown and threw a TD pass.

“The offensive line puts in extra time in the weight room, and they do everything together,” said Scott, who played despite suffering from the flu. Scott has 12 TD passes and nine rushing touchdowns on this season.  “Our expectations are to win a league championship.”

Saddleback (4-4, 2-0) took the opening kickoff and marched 53 yards in 14 plays to take the lead. Bravo was the workhorse on the drive as he carried the ball eight times for 34 yards and capped the drive with a 5-yard TD run, giving Saddleback a 7-0 lead at the 5:39 mark of the opening quarter.

The Rebels (1-7, 0-2) countered with an impressive drive deep inside Roadrunners’ territory, but Christopher Cortez recovered a Savanna fumble, halting the Rebels scoring opportunity.

Saddleback quickly got back on the move as they drove 78 yards in 10 plays to up its lead to 14-0. Scott tossed a 26-yard TD pass to Jeremiah Lemus on a fourth-down play for the score. Lemus outjumped two Rebels defenders on the play and made a spectacular catch.

“I was in the moment; I wasn’t surprised I made the catch,” said Lemus, who injured his left ankle late in the game but is not expected to miss nay games.  

The Rebels had two more excellent scoring opportunities in the half but came up short.

Deep in Roadrunners’ territory, Cortez and Anthony Lopez combined for a key sack on a third-down play. On the next play, the Rebels misfired on a field goal attempt. Late in the half, Savanna was turned back on three consecutive runs from the 1-yard line and was forced to turn the ball back over to Saddleback.

Vargas was in the middle of the Saddleback defensive line that made the crucial stop and changed the tide of the game.  

“We never stop playing hard; that was all teamwork,” Vargas added.   

The Rebels took the second half kickoff and Jake Dorsi capped off a scoring drive with a 9-yard TD run to cut the lead to 14-7. However, Savanna failed to build on their momentum. 

Bravo scored on runs of 27 and 5 yards in the second half to up Saddleback’s lead to 28-7 early in the fourth quarter. Scott also added a TD run. Savanna added a late touchdown by Diego Perez to close out the scoring.

Dorsi rushed for 101 yards on 18 carries and has run 839 yards this season. Fabrissio Ramirez had six receptions to lead the Rebels, who have dropped seven straight games.  

“We keep shooting ourselves in the foot,” said Savanna Coach Fred Emmerson. “We had too many mistakes, a fumble and an interception and we didn’t take advantage of our opportunities. That has been the story of our season. Now we’re playing for pride. We need to win our last two games and go 2-2 in league.

“It’s always good to get a win, but we had too many penalties tonight,” said Saddleback Coach Rob Thompson. “Fabian is a really good back, and he did a great job tonight coming off an injury. We now feel when we take the field that we can win. Our expectations are to win league.”

NOTES:

— Saddleback designated Friday night’s game as a “Pink Out.” Many of the Roadrunners’ fans, cheerleaders, players coaches and band members wore pink in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness. The stadium was decorated with a wide assortment of pink banners and balloons and the atmosphere was lively.

—For only the second time, the Roadrunners wore black jerseys with white numbers and black pants.