GARDEN GROVE – Just when it needed it, the Garden Grove offense found the clock-grinding, yard-churning drive that it was going to take to gain control in Thursday’s Garden Grove League opener against Los Amigos.
With an eight-point lead entering the fourth quarter, the Argonauts, led by quarterback Ruben Mendoza, went on a seven-play drive, all on the ground, that ended with Mendoza’s 4-yard touchdown run for a bit of breathing room against the host Lobos.
“That was big for us,” Mendoza said. “Our offensive line had a big push and they did a great job blocking, as did the receivers.”
Mendoza then added a late touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to give Garden Grove a 27-6 road victory over Los Amigos at Garden Grove High.
“They always play us tough,” Garden Grove coach Ricardo Cepeda said. “I think we did some things well. Our defense played really well.”
The Lobos (3-3, 0-1) caused the offense for the Argonauts (4-2, 1-0) some problems early, forcing two turnovers. The Argonauts finally broke open the scoring with a pair of second-quarter touchdowns, a 28-yard touchdown run from Dominik Sanchez and 39-yard touchdown pass from Mendoza to Adam Johnson for a 14-0 halftime lead.
Late in third quarter, the Lobos put together their best drive of the game, going 56 yards in eight plays, ending with Edgar Galindo’s 5-yard touchdown. The conversion was no good, leaving the score at 14-6 entering the fourth quarter.
Then the Argonauts went on their momentum-stealing drive.
“We definitely had to gamble,” Los Amigos coach Carl Agnew said. “We took some chances early in the game. Against a good team, you have to make them and if you don’t, they’re going to make you pay and they made us pay.
“We had the momentum (after Galindo’s touchdown), but they took it back,” Los Amigos coach Carl Agnew said.
The Lobos will host Bolsa Grande next week, while Garden Grove faces Santiago.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@scng.com
