Rebels’ speed burns Costa Mesa

COSTA MESA — When playing the Savanna High Rebels, speed is always a cause for concern. This point was impressed, once again on Costa Mesa football coach Jeremy Osso, whose team was sped past, 62-7, in the nonleague season opener for both teams Friday night at Orange Coast College.

“How can you contain speed?” asked the second-year coach, whose team was trounced by the Orange League representative, 55-7, in last season’s opener. “We tried to keep them inside, but [Dominique Williams] was just that fast.”

Williams, who scored four touchdowns against the Mustangs last season, had a pair Friday, including a 29-yard interception return on the second play after halftime that widened the lead to 48-7.

Williams, who carried six times for 70 yards and had the lone reception for the visitors for 14 more yards, had plenty of fast company.

Stephen Jones bolted for rushing touchdowns of 72 and 33 yards and capped the scoring with a 70-yard punt return with 8:07 left in the game.

CJ White had 134 rushing yards on just five carries, including a 34-yard touchdown scamper, while option quarterback Marc Thomas carried eight times for 32 yards, including touchdowns of 10 and seven yards.

Savanna, 9-3 last season, after which it lost its quarterback and all of its starting offensive line to graduation, scored touchdowns on six of its first seven possessions.

The Rebels scored on three of their first four possessions after halftime, leaving Costa Mesa little time to catch its breath, let alone mount any consistent offense.

There was one Mustangs who appeared to be capable of running with the Rebels, as junior Antwon Byrd produced big plays on both sides of the ball.

Bryd, who did not carry the ball as a sophomore, amassed 184 rushing yards on 18 attempts, including a 74-yard scoring sprint with 8:48 left in the first half that helped the hosts avert a shutout.

Byrd added a 55-yard run and two carries of 11 yards, before cramping up and exiting the game with 1:23 left in the third quarter.

Byrd also showed his speed by chasing down chasing down White after a 59-yard run at the Mustangs’ seven-yard line early in the second quarter.

Byrd, an outside linebacker, also had the Mustangs’ lone quarterback sack, wrapping Thomas up for a four-yard loss late in the opening period.

Costa Mesa senior outside linebacker Cody De La Mater and junior middle ’backer Robbie Gemayel, were also consistent run stoppers for the Mustangs, who benefited from 15 Savanna penalties and recovered three Rebels fumbles.

End Jason Schroeder, free safety Brian Waldron and Gemayel recovered fumbles for Mesa, while De La Mater blocked a punt that was pounced on by Max Cederquist late in the game.

De La Mater also thwarted a two-point conversion run.

Savanna outgained Costa Mesa on the ground, 432-190 and had 14 passing yards to the Mustangs’ 11.

Costa Mesa will try to bounce back on Sept. 7, when it plays host to Rancho Alamitos at Newport Harbor High.

SAVANNA 62, COSTA MESA 7

FIRST QUARTER

Sav – White 34 run (Sever kick), 10:04.

Sav – Jones 33 run (kick failed), 8:53.

Sav – Jones 72 run (Williams run), 5:27.

SECOND QUARTER

Sav – Williams 8 run (Chivira kick), 908.

CM – Byrd 74 run (J. Rodriguez kick), 8:48.

Sav – Miller 24 run (run failed), 6:01.

Sav – Williams 29 interception return (Chivira kick), 4:28.

THIRD QUARTER

Sav – Thomas 10 run (Chivira kick), 11:17.

Sav – Thomas 7 run (Chivira kick), 3:37.

FOURTH QUARTER

Sav – Jones 70 punt return (Chivira kick), 8:07.

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

Sav – Jones, 7-139, 2 TDs; White, 5-134, 1 TD; Williams, 6-70, 1 TD; Miller, 4-50, 1 TD; Thomas, 8-32, 2 TDs; Washington, 2-7; Small, 1-5; Witham, 1-3; Bonilla, 2-minus-2; Aramburo, 1-minus-4; Team, 2-minus-2.

CM – Bryd, 18-184, 1 TD; Kelly, 4-7; Salyer, 1-5; De La Mater, 6-3; Farthing, 5-minus-1; Haynes, 2-minus-8.

INDIVIDUAL PASSING

Sav – JThomsa, 1-2-0, 14; Bonilla, 0-2-0.

CM – Farthing, 1-7-1, minus-1; Haynes, 2-9-1, 12.

INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING

Sav – Williams, 1-14.

CM – Erno, 1-7; Thoms, 1-5; Byrd, 1-minus-1.