GARDEN GROVE – Pacifica and Western met Thursday night at Garden Grove High with both teams hoping to leave the other behind in the Empire League basement.
Pacifica produced the game’s first five scores and cruised to a 35-6 victory over the Pioneers (1-8 overall, 0-4 in league).
The Mariners (2-7, 1-3) snapped a six-game losing streak.
Quarterback Nick Garcia snuck in from 1-yard line late in the first quarter to give Pacifica a 7-0 lead, he later connected with Travis Hadden on a 31-yard pass.
Trent Hunter scored on runs of 9 and 5 yards in the second quarter to give the Pioneers a 28-0 lead at halftime.
Western’s lone score came on a Nick Zarate 22-yard TD pass to Ramzi Al-Shurman early in the third quarter.
“We’ve had some heartbreakers this season, and yet our kids don’t let that deter them from doing the right things and working hard,” Pacifica coach Marcello Giuliano said. “We got important plays from all sides, ran the ball well, and for the most part, made the plays on defense.”
Isiah Togia had a huge game on defense with a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown and a sack of Zarate. Isiah’s brother, Isaak, also recovered a fumble for the Pioneers.
Marcus Tolbert led Pacifica with 47 yards rushing on 11 carries, and Hunter finished with 45 yards on seven carries.
Jay Adams had a game-high 57 yards on the ground for Western. Zarate had 42 yards rushing and was 4 of 7 for 22 yards.
Garcia completed 8 of 14 passes for 80 yards for Pacifica.
Kyler Lenn also recovered a fumble for the Mariners, who finish the season with a game against first-place Valencia next Friday.
Western closes out its season next Friday when it hosts Cypress.
