Savanna Holds Off Cypress to Win, 24-14

Savanna put together an 82-yard scoring drive, consuming more than six minutes late in the final quarter to prevent a Cypress upset as the Rebels defeated the Centurians, 24-14, in a nonleague football game Saturday at Western High.

Cypress, down 17-14 with 6 minutes 45 seconds left to play, held the Rebels on the Savanna 18 with a surprise third-down punt. But the ploy backfired as Savanna held onto the ball for most of the rest of the game, partly because of two major penalties--a personal foul and a facemask. Alfred Pene scored from the 13 with 34 seconds left for the final touchdown of the game.

Savanna (2-1) took a 17-0 lead on Jason Brown’s 32-yard field goal and two two-play touchdown drives. Brown scored from the 10 after Charles Ford’s interception gave Savanna a 10-0 lead. James Law connected on a 54-yard touchdown pass to Ford with 11:14 left in the second quarter to increase the lead to 17-0.

Cypress (0-3), held scoreless in its first two games, reached the end zone for the first time this season when quarterback James Law bullied his way from the one, with 1:46 left in the first half.