By Jacob Wilson/Garden Grove Journal
Pacifica vs. Garden Grove
A rivalry renewed?
Garden Grove (2-1) scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and beat Pacifica (1-2) 38-14 Friday.
“Garden Grove played harder and faster,” Mariner Head Coach Marcello Giulano said. “They had a great game plan and played really well.”
The win is Garden Grove’s first against Pacifica since 2001, a span of eight games. The Mariners left the Garden Grove League for the Empire League in 2006, but the teams have faced each other three times in the last three years. In 2010, Pacifica handed Garden Grove its only loss of the year.
“It’s good to keep the city rivalry going,” Garden Grove Head Coach Willy Puga said.
The Argonauts jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Gabriel Carillo converted a 42-yard field goal. Minutes later Bryan Quexel added a 45-yard interception return.
Pacifica answered fast. Mariner running back Michael Gehres ran 42 yards to the Argonaut one-yard line and followed with a one-yard touchdown. Garden Grove led 10-7 after one.
On their next drive, the Argonauts marched 70 yards to set up first and goal from the 10. On fourth and two Maze Missoe plunged past the goal line and Garden Grove led 17-7 at halftime.
A good kickoff return and a facemask penalty gave the Mariners the ball in Argonaut territory to start the third quarter. The Mariners took advantage and scored on an 11-yard pass from Nick Howard to Michael Flatebo to cut the lead to 17-14.
Pacifica never got any closer. The Mariners gained just 30 yards in the final quarter and crossed midfield only once. The Argonauts added touchdowns from Quexel, C.J. Del Real and Sione Masoe.
“Our offensive line played a good game and we were able to pound the ball and wear them down,” Puga said.
Argonaut quarterback Martinez completed 10 of 11 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. The Argonauts held Howard to under 100 passing yards after the junior threw for 471 yards in two games.
