GARDEN GROVE – Jordan Antunez rushed for 193 yards and two touchdowns, as Garden Grove rode a huge second half to a 35-14 Garden Grove League victory over Santiago on Thursday night at Garden Grove High.
Alejandro Ceja added 155 total yards and two touchdowns, and Joseph Camarillo rushed for 74 yards.
Garden Grove (9-1, 5-0) scored on its first four series of the second half to earn its third straight undefeated league season. It has won 17 straight league games.
The Cavaliers (7-3, 2-3) entered the game prepared to fight for their playoff hopes.
Santiago held the potent Argonauts offense to one touchdown, by Antunez, in the first half. The Cavaliers stayed close before a drive midway through the second quarter allowed them to tie the game at 7.
Junior Ortega scored on a 49-yard run as the Cavaliers needed just three plays to go 80 yards.
A tie game at the half remained close early in the third. Ceja gave the Argonauts a 14-7 edge on a quarterback sneak. Santiago answered on the ensuing kickoff as Dominick Smith returned the ball 94 yards to bring the Cavaliers even.
Antunez crossed the goal line on a run from 6 yards out on the next drive to give Garden Grove the lead for good.
“It’s great to win league, but our next goal is to win a CIF championship,” Argonauts co-coach Ricardo Cepeda said. “We lost in the finals the last two years. Our goal this year is to hopefully bring it home.”
The loss leaves the Cavaliers in a precarious situation. They hope to receive an at-large berth after their loss Thursday and Rancho Alamitos’ win over La Quinta, which ensured Santiago will finish fourth in league.
