GARDEN GROVE – Los Amigos’ Jorge Najera and Johnny Alvarado did not make any friends Friday night during the Matadors’ 34-28 Garden Grove League-opening victory over Bolsa Grande.
Najera and Alvarado paved the way for the Lobos’ first win of the year and were public enemies Nos. 1 and 2 for Bolsa Grande (0-6, 0-1).
Najera rushed for 213 yards on 32 carries while Alvarado, the quarterback, racked up 151 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries. The duo’s physical running attack helped the Lobos (1-6, 1-0) control the clock and keep the Matadors’ offense off the field.
Trailing by 14 points with less than two minutes to go, Bolsa Grande mounted a nine-play drive that ended when quarterback Eduardo Arreola found Chris Perez in the end zone for a 6-yard TD pass. Running back Elian Gallegos added a 2-point conversion to cut the Lobos’ lead to 34-28.
Alvarado completed only one of his four passes for 18 yards, but with the Matadors’ success on the ground it did not matter.
Los Amigos’ grind-it-out offense was on display on a 15-play, 79-yard drive that ate up more than nine minutes. The Lobos converted three fourth downs to keep the chains moving and the clock running before Najera scored on a 6-yard run.
For Bolsa Grande, Arreola completed 8 of 22 passes for 99 yards and the touchdown. He also ran seven times for a team-high 36 yards. Gallegos scored on runs of 1 and 12 yards.
The only other scoring for Bolsa Grande came on a 75-yard touchdown kick off return for a touchdown by Isaiah Moore immediately following Los Amigos’ first touchdown.
