Western Defense Preserves Victory Over Magnolia

ANAHEIM — Western High School’s defense made the big plays when they were needed to lead the Pioneers to a 20-13 Orange League victory over Magnolia at Western.

Leading, 20-13, with 2 minutes 12 seconds to play, Western’s Rudy Rodriguez and Errick Bryan stopped Sentinel quarterback Darrell Turner on a fourth-and-goal play at Western’s five-yard line to preserve the victory.

Western (2-8, 2-3 in league) had stopped a Sentinel drive inside its five-yard line in the second quarter when Bryan recovered a fumble. The Pioneers then drove 95 yards in 11 plays, capped by Bryan Brennan’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Jason Christensen that made the score 14-7 with 9:13 left in the half.

Magnolia (2-8, 1-4) made it 14-13 with 1:11 to play in the half on a one-yard run by Dennis McCowan. The extra point was missed. Earlier in the first half, McCowan, the Sentinels’ leading rusher, threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Steve Anderson that tied the score at 7 midway through the first quarter. The Sentinels were shut out in the second half.

Western extended its lead to 20-13 when Shane Foss scored on a three-yard run with 11:16 to play. Foss paced Western’s rushing attack with 65 yards in 13 attempts. Brennan, a sophomore, completed nine of 15 passes for 93 yards.