GARDEN GROVE – Los Amigos versus La Quinta is not a game that has drawn the label of “showdown” in recent years.
But midway through the Garden Grove League season, there was no mistaking the fact that both teams had earmarked Thursday night’s game as one that could change their seasons.
The result was a rapid-fire shootout with Los Amigos coming out on top, 55-52, in a triple-overtime thriller at Garden Grove High.
Jose Olvera’s 3-yard rushing touchdown in the third overtime handed the Lobos (3-5, 3-0) the victory. The win nearly guarantees that Los Amigos will return to the playoffs for a fifth straight year.
“This was the whole season right here,” Olvera said. “We win this game, and we go to the playoffs. We want to go deep this year.”
Olvera rushed for 282 yards and six touchdowns. Lobos quarterback Jorge Najera added 156 rushing yards and a score.
The two teams were never separated by more than a touchdown. La Quinta starting quarterback Gilbert Napoles played a flawless first half. He completed all eight of his pass attempts for 164 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Aztecs (3-5, 1-2) to a 28-21 lead.
Napoles, who also ran for 72 yards, exited in the third quarter when he injured his right knee on a goal-line carry. Jaxon Morgan filled in at quarterback the rest of the game.
Morgan entered in a 35-all tie late in the third. His first play was a fourth-down quarterback keeper, on which he scored for the lead.
Olvera scored from 56 yards out with eight seconds left in the third to tie it at 42.
No scoring occurred in the fourth quarter or the first overtime. Olvera and La Quinta’s Dylan Do exchanged rushing touchdowns in the second overtime.
