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Damian Dottore. Sports. HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 24, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Griffin Grimes is a hard-working senior on the Foothill boys soccer team. Coach Dave McAulay described him as a “big guy who is the center forward that we are counting on.”

“He can control the ball at his feet, looking for other guys to play off of him,” McAulay added. “He is at the top of our system this year.”

If that is the case, the Knights could be headed for a postseason appearance. On Wednesday at Saddleback High, Grimes finished with two goals and an assist in Foothills’ 4-0 victory against the Roadrunners in a nonleague game.

“We are extremely happy with where we are at right now,” McAulay said. “We have some things that we have to work on. But the mentality and the work rate and focus is all here for them. That is huge.”

Grimes scored off a rebound in the 27th minute to give Foothill the lead, 1-0. Conner Ebright initially took a shot from the corner, which was punched away by Saddleback goalkeeper Adan Lopez, and the ball landed by Grimes’ feet.

Grimes’ second goal, in the 65th minute, was the one that really did the Roadrunners in, Saddleback coach Mel Silva said.

“We tried to get back to our game in the second half, and we did for a while. But then, that other goal (Grimes’ second) came. … That was a good goal,” Silva said. “We just weren’t ready. We just watched them play.”

The Knights (3-1) didn’t give the Roadrunners (5-2) many opportunities to get back into the game. Saddleback’s best look at the goal game came in the 57th minute when Oscar Sandoval crossed the ball to Felix Chavarria, who was standing in space near the penalty spot. But Collin Thaete quickly closed in for the Knights and kicked the ball away before Chavarria could get a shot off.”

“We have a great senior back four group. They know what we expect and know how our system is supposed to work,” McAulay said.

Kenton Case and Carlos Guevara also scored for the Knights. Grimes assisted on Case’s goal in the 34th minute.

In other nonleague boys soccer games:

No. 7 Santiago 2, Buena Park 0: Israel Espinoza and Jafet Sanchez both scored for the host Cavaliers (4-1-1).

Godinez 1, University 0: Ricardo Ayala knocked in a pass from Brian Ibarra to lead the visiting Grizzlies (5-1).

Santa Ana 2, Santa Ana Valley 0: Oscar Navarro finished with a goal and an assist for the visiting Saints (3-2-1) at Centennial Park. Maykol Leon added a goal for the Saints.

No. 8 Fountain Valley 1, Segerstrom 1: Jacob Shubin scored for the visiting Barons (5-0-2). Hayden Salazar scored of an assist from Fabian Aguilar for the Jaguars (2-3-1).

Contact the writer: ddottore@ocregister.com