Garden Grove Journal
The schedule-makers saved the best one for last.
Two powerhouse football teams, both undefeated in league, will clash Friday night with the winner taking the Garden Grove League title.
Unbeaten Garden Grove will host once-beaten Santiago at Garden Grove Stadium. Both teams have already clinched a spot in the upcoming CIF playoffs. They are both defending champions, having shared that title with Los Amigos last year in a rare three-way dead heat.
Actually, this is a chance for a third-straight GGL title for Santiago, having won it outright in 2007 and shared it in 2008.
If tradition has any influence, Garden Grove might have the edge. In the all-time series between the schools, dating back to 1962, the Argos hold the lead 25 to 18 with two ties. Grove has also won nine of the last 10 contests between the two, including last year’s hard-fought 10-7 triumph.
On Thursday in the GGL, winless Bolsa Grande and Los Amigos clash at the Matador field. In the Empire League, Pacifica will host Valencia at Garden Grove Stadium.
In the Golden West League, Orange will visit Westminster in a battle of two Journal locals.
On Friday, Rancho Alamitos will face La Quinta at Bolsa Grande Stadium in a battle for third place in the GGL.
In the Orange League, Western will host Magnolia at Handel Stadium.
Here’s a look at Week Nine in the Garden Grove-Stanton-Westminster area, prep football-wise.
Garden Grove 60
Los Amigos 7
Sean Young ran for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Argonauts defeated the Lobos Friday night at Garden Grove Stadium. He passed for 133 yards and ran for 130 more as Grove improved to 9-0 overall and 4-0 in Garden Grove League action.
David Hernandez scored on a 26-yard run for the Lobos, who fell to 0-9 and 0-4.
Rancho Alamitos 49
Bolsa Grande 15
Vaquero quarterback Mike Frank continued his assault on the record books with four touchdown passes as Rancho defeated Bolsa at the Mats’ stadium Friday night.
Frank passed for scores of 7, 36, 35 and 25 yards, finishing with 350 yards through the air. Oscar Segovia had a 64-yard kickoff return for Bolsa’s first score, and Jesse Esparza caught a 21-yard TD pass from Jake Flores for the other Matador tally.
Rancho improved to 5-4 overall and 2-2 in Garden Grove League play. Bolsa fell to 0-9 and 04.
Anaheim 23, Magnolia 6
The Sentinels scored first but couldn’t hold the lead as they lost to the Colonists Friday night at Western High’s Handel Field. Marvin Magallanes scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter, but it was mostly Anaheim after that.
Devante Bates led the Sentinels with 84 yards. Magnolia’s record went to 1-3 in Orange League action, and 1-8 overall.
Segerstrom 42, Westminster 28
The Lions’ offense scored four times, but their defense had an off-night as Westminster lost a battle for the Golden West League lead Friday night in Santa Ana.
Tarik Rayford led the Lions (5-4 overall, 3-1 in league), finishing with 215 yards receiving and two touchdown catches, both from Nick Anderson, who threw for 130 yards and ran for one score.
Santiago 33, La Quinta 14
The Cavaliers built a 27-0 halftime lead and withstood a late La Quinta rally to stay undefeated in the GGL and set up this week’s clash with Garden Grove.
Chris Ortega threw for 128 yards and a score; Julian Martinez ran for 73 yards and one score. The Aztecs (2-7 overall, 2-2 in league) were led by Darren Nguyen, who threw for 121 yards and a score.
Orange 38, Ocean View 21
The suddenly-hot Panthers posted the Golden West League win Friday night at Fred Kelly Stadium. Axel Sanchez led the way for Orange, now 3-6 overall and 2-2 in league action.
Sanchez ran for 315 yards and scored three touchdowns for the home team. Tony Flores threw for two scores for the Panthers, on a 6-yard pass to Martin Torres and a 13-yard toss to Jesus Aguirre. After than, Sanchez took over, finding the end zone on runs of 61, 1 and 3 yards. Ivan Guerrero also kicked a 19-yard field goal for Orange.
