GARDEN GROVE – Those within the Brea Olinda camp had waited a year for this game.
The way the Wildcats told the narrative, their season had ended too early in a second-round playoff loss to Garden Grove last year.
Not this time.
Brea Olinda’s defense stood up the county’s third-leading rusher all game, and the Wildcats prevailed at Garden Grove, 17-7, in the CIF-SS Southern Division semifinals Friday night.
The Wildcats (8-5) will host North Hills League rival Canyon in the championship game.
Brea Olinda held Garden Grove running back Jordan Antunez to just 34 rushing yards on 16 carries. Antunez entered the game with more than 2,300 rushing yards. It was only the second game all year that he failed to reach 100 yards.
“It was just an incredible job,” Wildcats coach Robb Perrance said of his defense. “They just really did a number on them. Garden Grove runs the ball really well, and they shut it down. I’m really proud of them.”
Brandon Legendre and Alex Guerra had two tackles for a loss. Linebackers Michael Salazar, Steven Hayes, and Zach Arnold also helped to keep the Garden Grove running attack in check.
Jeremy Muehlhoff intercepted Joseph Camarillo on Garden Grove’s final drive, effectively ending a three-year run of title-game appearances for the Argonauts (10-3).
“When I caught that ball, I was so pumped,” Muehlhoff said. “We have a chance to win a ring. I was so excited.
“It feels good. It’s a revenge game. Last year, we lost at their field. Our whole theme this week was revenge.”
Muehlhoff perhaps had gained a bit of personal redemption. He had been the culprit when Garden Grove’s Mikel Lassalle jumped on a fumbled punt at the Brea 23. The Wildcats were clinging to a 14-7 lead late in the third quarter, and the defense came through with its biggest stop.
Camarillo could not connect with Argonauts leading receiver Malik Bilal on a fourth-down play, and the touchdown-lead remained intact. It was the only time Garden Grove sniffed the red zone in the second half.
Logan Bouvier’s 28-yard field goal made it 17-7 Brea with 9:35 to go.
Mario Moemoe took the opening kickoff back 82 yards for the Argonauts’ TD. That was the last time Garden Grove would be heard from in the first half.
In the second quarter, Brea got rushing TDs from Noah Rivera and Andrew Chammas. The duo combined for 136 rushing yards in shouldering the load for a limited Michael Martinson (leg). Martinson turned seven second-half carries into 22 yards.
Not many teams get the chance to play a championship game on their home field. Perrance is excited about the opportunity.
“It’s going to be awesome,” he said. “That’s the great thing about the city of Brea. They are so behind us.”
“It’s one community, one high school. It’s tremendous. I know they will all be there. The place will be packed.”
