LONG BEACH A couple of Garden Grove players were searching for their table Monday at the CIF-SS football press conference and luncheon at The Grand when they strolled right into their opponent – and city rival – for Saturday’s Southern Division final.
Yes, Garden Grove and Rancho Alamitos have a knack for finding each other.
“I kind of helped them out and showed them where their table was, but that was about it,” Rancho Alamitos quarterback Nick Brown said.
“I didn’t necessarily want them by us.”
Garden Grove wasn’t in the mood for talking, either.
“We’re more focused on the game,” Argonauts linebacker Reily Hoalton said.
He added: “(Brown) is a good athlete, but we have a good defense. He’s got his work cut out for him this week.”
Garden Grove (12-1) and Rancho Alamitos (11-2) will clash Saturday at Orange Coast College at 7:30 p.m. in the first all-Garden Grove final – an event that has the central Orange County city buzzing.
Rancho Alamitos coach Mike Enright said he felt the energy during a trip to a local home improvement store over the weekend.
“As I was walking through, a guy turned and said, ‘Hey, Coach, thanks. This is great for the city,’” Enright said. “This is huge for our league to have two teams in the finals. Nobody ever expected that.”
Garden Grove defeated Rancho Alamitos, 35-7, on Oct. 9 and has won 17 consecutive league games. The Argonauts, however, dropped the past two Southern Division finals to Corona del Mar.
“Hopefully, we win it this time,” Garden Grove cornerback/wide receiver Austen Christian said.
FUN WITH SARKISIAN
San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz had some fun with USC coach Steve Sarkisian, the guest speaker.
When introducing his players, Ortiz referred to USC quarterback commit Sam Darnold as a “quarterback/defensive end.”
MENTAL GAMES
San Clemente, like Garden Grove, plays a league foe that it defeated during the regular season. The Tritons (12-1) play Sea View League rival Trabuco Hills (9-4) in the Southwest Division final Friday night.
Darnold said his team learned a valuable lesson last week with a similar scenario against Capistrano Valley.
“That game was closer than it should have been,” he said of a 28-27 overtime victory in the semifinals. “That will definitely help us get through the whole idea of playing them (Trabuco Hills) twice.”
GOING FOR A THREE-PEAT
Trabuco Hills first-year coach Tony Henney wore the two CIF championship rings he won with Nordhoff to the luncheon. He guided the Ojai school to titles in 2012-13.
“I was blessed to get to one,” he said. “This is just a little icing on the cake.”
Henney said running back Chad Crosbie, a 1,000-yard rusher who left Friday’s semifinal victory against Buena Park with a neck injury, will play against San Clemente.
STYLISH DIABLOS
Mission Viejo quarterback Brock Johnson was one of the best-dressed players at the event with his bow tie.
Meanwhile, his grandfather, Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson, marked his 10th appearance in a CIF-SS final.
The Diablos will make their sixth appearance in a final under Johnson, who led El Toro to championship games four times in the 1980s.
“They’re all special, they really are,” said the coach, who will guide Mission Viejo (11-2) against Vista Murrieta (11-2) in the West Valley final Saturday at Angel Stadium at 2 p.m.
FULL-TIME WINNER
St. Margaret’s coach Stephen Barbee became the Tartans’ interim coach just prior to the season, but he has guided the team to a 13-0 record and trip to Saturday night’s East Valley final against Grace Brethren of Simi Valley (13-0). Barbee, who replaced Rod Baltau, plans to apply for the school’s permanent position.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
