Garden Grove's emotional ride stopped in finals

COSTA MESA - Garden Grove's football team had conquered adversity all season. On Friday, the Argonauts faced another challenge in their finest hour.

The inspirational story of Orange County's football season lost its best player – quarterback Sean Young – to a ribs injury in the first half of its clash against La Mirada in the Southern Division final.

But just as they did after the death of senior Kevin Telles on the opening night of their season, the Argonauts didn't quit.

Top-seeded Garden Grove tried to stick with the Matadores in the second half but lost, 49-27, in front of a near-capacity crowd at Orange Coast College.

Robert Telles, a brother of Kevin, talked to the Argonauts (13-1) afterward.

"You might have lost here tonight but you can take that intensity you played with on the football field and you can take into life because you can win in life," he told the players.

Young left after the first play of the second quarter. The senior's last play was a short run up the middle. Garden Grove's Josh Sepulveda scored on a wild, 8-yard run on the next play for a 21-7 lead, but the Argonauts weren't the same without their dual-threat quarterback.

La Mirada's physical ground attack kicked into gear in the second half and the Argonauts didn't have an answer on offense or defense. Second-seeded La Mirada (13-1) trailed, 21-14, at halftime but outscored the Argonauts, 35-6, in the final two quarters.

"He got hit in the ribs and couldn't go any more," Garden Grove coach Joe Hay said of Young, who left on a stretcher.

Garden Grove went down swinging. Twice in the final eight minutes they went for it on fourth downs deep in their territory. The Argonauts missed on both but scored with 1:06 left as sophomore quarterback Dallas Schuetz tossed an 18-yard pass to sophomore Tyren Anderson.

"We just ran out of guys – that's all that happened," Hay said. "They're a good team, so what can you say. Absolutely, I am I proud of our effort."

Garden Grove's defense entered the game without senior defensive end Steven Meredith, who suffered a knee injury Tuesday.

La Mirada took an early 7-0 lead after Alejandro Magana blocked a punt on Garden Grove's game-opening possession. The Matadores recovered at the Argonauts' 18 and scored three plays later on a tackle-busting 7-yard run by Justin Torres.

Torres finished with 103 yards and three scores on 12 carries.

But like it did throughout the season, Garden Grove got off the mat early. An interception by cornerback Joaquin Reynoso on La Mirada next possession sparked the Argonauts. Garden Grove drove 67 yards for a 1-yard touchdown sneak by Young with 5:24 left in the first quarter.

Sepulveda set up the score by breaking a 45 yard run to La Mirada's 3.

After Garden Grove's defense held, the Argonauts' offense stayed hot. Young and wide out Josh Webb connected for a 60-yard touchdown as Garden Grove took a 14-7 lead. Young rolled out to complete a pass along the sideline to Webb, who turned up field and out-ran the defense to score with 2:11 left in the opening period.

The Agronauts' defense then forced another turnover. Defensive lineman Joe Taufetee forced a fumble that Christian Trejo recovered at La Mirada's 31. Garden Grove then drove for the score but lost Young. Sepulveda scored on a direct snap that he fumbled but recovered to run around the end and along the sideline with 11:42 left in the second period.

But that was the last time the Argonauts led.