Ioja’s 3 Scoring Passes Rally Garden Grove

GARDEN GROVE — Quarterback Bob Ioja threw for three touchdowns, including one to Tim Silva with 4 1/2 minutes to play, to give Garden Grove High School a 28-24 victory over Savanna Thursday at Garden Grove.

The Argonauts rallied from an early 14-0 deficit using their “Romanian Connection.” Bob Ioja hooked up with his brother, tight end Adrian Ioja, for a 33-yard pass to cut the lead to seven with 5:13 to play in the half.

Savanna’s Hien Nguyen fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Garden Grove’s Raul Gonzales scooped up the loose ball and ran 25 yards for another touchdown.

Garden Grove got the ball back again after an errant snap on a Savanna punt, and Bob Ioja capitalized. After scrambling away from a furious Rebels’ pass rush, he found Adrian Ioja for his second touchdown of the game with a 17-yard pass.

“If we give Bob the time, he’s a fine passer,” Garden Grove Coach Jeffrey Buenafe said.

Savanna took a 24-21 lead after Scott Thompson’s field goal and a 39-yard touchdown pass from Brad Belanger to Vince Fores, but Bob Ioja’s heroics spoiled it for Savanna.