Late Touchdown Helps Savanna Win

BUENA PARK — Canhuy Nguyen scored from 15 yards out with minutes 6 seconds left in the game to lead Savanna to a 28-21 victory over Buena Park in a nonleague game Friday night at Buena Park High.

The Coyotes had taken a 21-20 lead with 3:38 left in the game, when quarterback George McDonald followed running back Chung Thai through the line for a three-yard touchdown run. Tim Jones connected on the conversion. Buena Park had gotten the ball on the three after an errant center snap on a punt attempt.

Nguyen, starting his first game for Savanna (4-0) after seeing limited action because of an ankle injury, had runs of 24 and 50 yards on the first two plays from scrimmage, the second for a touchdown. He finished with 175 yards in 10 carries.

Buena Park (0-4) came right back when McDonald scored from the one to cap a 69-yard scoring drive. The two-point conversion attempt failed.

With 9:07 left in the second quarter, Savanna quarterback Paul Waldrop ran for an 80-yard touchdown and Mike Flores’ conversion gave the Rebels a 14-6 lead.

Buena Park, which had first-half drives stopped on the Savanna 22 and 15, put together a 14-play, 78-yard scoring drive to open the second half with McDonald again scoring from the one. A conversion pass from McDonald to Jones tied the score, 14-14, with 5:48 left in the third quarter.

Savanna took the lead on a 74-yard run by Nguyen on the first play of the fourth quarter. The extra-point attempt failed, giving Savanna a 20-14 lead.

After Buena Park took the lead, Waldrop had a 15-yard run, incomplete pass and a 39-yard run to set up the winning touchdown by Nguyen.